Szabó Andrea urges Hungarians to confront their past as the nation looks to 2026

Szabó Andrea writes about her presence in the crowd at Kossuth Square when Szűrös Mátyás announced the Hungarian Republic, a memory that still shapes her view of the nation. As a young student, she felt the end of an old political system and the opening of new possibilities for a reimagined Hungary. Over the past thirty-three years, she observes that the habit of seeking fresh starts has grown, while the willingness to face the country's own history has waned.

The column argues that genuine progress requires abandoning self-deception and naming past responsibilities. With the 2026 election approaching, she urges citizens to engage in this difficult self-confrontation to shape the future they want. The piece links personal recollection with a broader call for collective honesty.