Oldest Hungarian Parliament Member Passes Away
Béla Turi-Kovács, a prominent lawmaker of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party, has passed away at the age of 87, confirmed Máté Kocsis, the party’s group leader, on Saturday. Turi-Kovács, who had been the oldest member of parliament since 2014, dedicated his life to serving Hungary and its people in the national assembly for over two decades.
Born in 1934, Turi-Kovács played an active role in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. However, his participation in the anti-Soviet revolt led to his expulsion from the Budapest ELTE University, where he was studying law. Undeterred, he joined the Independent Smallholders’ Party (FKgP) in the same year, following in the footsteps of his family.
In 1998, Turi-Kovács entered Hungary’s post-transition parliament as a representative of the FKgP. During his political career, he held the position of environment minister from 2000 to 2002. Later, he switched political allegiances and joined Fidesz, becoming a key member of the party and serving as a Fidesz lawmaker since 2002.
Máté Kocsis expressed his deep condolences and emphasized that Turi-Kovács’s immense knowledge and life experience would be sorely missed within the Fidesz parliamentary group. Kocsis also highlighted Turi-Kovács’s unwavering dedication to the smallholder and civic movements, which remained close to his heart throughout his life.
The passing of Béla Turi-Kovács brings a sense of loss not only to his party but also to the entire political landscape of Hungary. His contributions and achievements as a lawmaker and his role in shaping the country’s post-transition period will be remembered. Hungary mourns the loss of a respected statesman and leader.
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