József Antall | |
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Prime Minister of Hungary 1st Prime Minister of the Third Republic of Hungary |
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In office 23 May 1990 – 12 December 1993 |
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President | Árpád Göncz |
Preceded by | Miklós Németh |
Succeeded by | Péter Boross |
Member of the National Assembly | |
In office 2 May 1990 – 12 December 1993 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Budapest, Hungary |
8 April 1932
Died | 12 December 1993 Budapest, Hungary |
(aged 61)
Political party | MDF (conservative) |
Spouse(s) | Klára Fülepp |
Children | György Péter |
József Antall, Jr. (8 April 1932 – 12 December 1993) was the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Hungary after the fall of Communism (from 23 May 1990 until 12 December 1993, his death), teacher, librarian, historian and political figure. He was the leader of the Hungarian Democratic Forum between 1989 and 1993.
József Tihamér Antall de Dörgicse et Kisjene was born to an ancient Hungarian family from the lower nobility in Budapest on 8 April 1932. His father, József Antall, Sr. jurist and civil servant, worked for the government in several ministries. Antall, Sr. coordinated the first living wage calculations in Hungary, and he was a founding member of the Independent Smallholders' Party (1931). During World War II, he presided the government committee for refugees. After the German occupation of Hungary he resigned; later he was arrested by the Gestapo. After the war, he became minister of reconstruction in the government of Zoltán Tildy. Later, he became president of the Hungarian Red Cross, but after the communist coup he resigned and retired to his family estate. In 1991, he was posthumously honoured by Yad Vashem.
His mother, Irén Szűcs, was the daughter of a village teacher. Her father, István Szűcs, also became a political figure as a deputy Secretary of State. Antall had a sister, Edith Antall. His brother-in-law, Géza Jeszenszky later became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Antall cabinet.