We were shocked to learn that in Kossuth tér after the founding session of Parliament, the bishop of the Reformed Christian Calvinist Church in Croatia, the lay president and counsellor of the Reformed Church in Hungary and police officers on duty serving the country’s security were the victims of unacceptable atrocities.

The indefensible and unjustifiable attack of a misled and deceived minority called out to parade in the streets by opposition forces which make a mockery of the right of the freedom of opinion and are unable to accept the evident election results gravely violates the values professed by majority society, by peaceful Hungarian people.

It is particularly painful that – as signs appear to indicate –, in the absence of fundamental information, the uncontrolled aggression of anti-government demonstrators was directed on this occasion against three people who themselves make every effort for the spiritual and intellectual renewal of our nation in their respective fields of work as well as against police officers who perform their duties in a disciplined and peaceful manner.

The will expressed by the Hungarian people in the parliamentary elections is clear and unquestionable.

We call upon the irresponsible political forces which are unable to accept this as well as on media outlets which seek to discredit Christianity with any means possible as a knee jerk reaction to put an end to their hate campaign and incitement, and to stop undermining the country’s jointly earned security with their actions.

We wish to take this opportunity to express our sympathies to the esteemed bishop, president and counsellor – the victims of this undignified and shameful atrocity – who bore it all with Christian patience and dignity, and to thank the police officers serving on site who manifested maximum self-discipline.

Together with the majority of Hungarian people who regard Christianity as a value, we will continue to rely on the invaluable service of our churches which have been put to the test in the storms of history and are making consistent efforts to build a civilisation that is based on love.

Miklós Soltész, Minister of State for Church, National Minority and Civil Society Relations

(MTI)