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Protests usher in far-right theatre director in Hungary Protests usher in far-right theatre director in Hungary
(about 11 hours later)
By Nick Thorpe BBC News, HungaryBy Nick Thorpe BBC News, Hungary
Gyorgy Dorner must have known that his first day as director of the prominent Hungarian Uj Szinhaz, or New Theatre, would be surrounded by drama. Rival rallies have taken place in Budapest over the appointment of an actor, known for his far-right views, as director of a prominent theatre.
But the first act was played out on the streets of Budapest - with opponents and supporters split over his far-right views. Gyorgy Dorner, who is also a playwright, was picked to direct the New Theatre in October by the mayor of Budapest, Istvan Tarlos.
Dorner was personally appointed to the post last October by the Mayor of Budapest, Istvan Tarlos, prompting protests from theatre actors and audiences within Hungary and abroad. He is associated with the far-right Hungarian Justice and Life Party.
A well-known playwright - he has also contributed the Hungarian soundtrack to Bruce Willis films - he is associated with the far-right Hungarian Justice and Life Party (MIEP). The party was set up by another playwright, Istvan Csurka, in 1992 but no longer has MPs.
The party was set up by playwright Istvan Csurka in 1992, but no longer has seats in parliament.
It has now largely been eclipsed by another far-right group, Jobbik - Movement for a Better Hungary - which won nearly 17% of the vote at the last elections.It has now largely been eclipsed by another far-right group, Jobbik - Movement for a Better Hungary - which won nearly 17% of the vote at the last elections.
'Instil patriotism''Instil patriotism'
"We want to use our own tools to make it possible to say proudly, I love my country, I am a Hungarian, a Christian Hungarian, and I live according to European Christian moral values," Dorner said in a recent chatshow on Echo TV. "We want to use our own tools to make it possible to say proudly, I love my country, I am a Hungarian, a Christian Hungarian, and I live according to European Christian moral values," Dorner said in a recent chat show on Echo TV.
He insists he will put on only plays by Hungarian authors and with Hungarian directors, in order to "instil a sense of patriotism in the audience". The new director, who has also contributed the Hungarian soundtrack to Bruce Willis films, insists he will put on only plays by Hungarian authors and with Hungarian directors, in order to "instil a sense of patriotism in the audience".
"This appointment is incomprehensible - part of an absurd, even tragicomic drama," Istvan Marta, the director of the theatre for the past 13 years, told the BBC. Istvan Marta, the director of the New Theatre (Hungarian: Uj Szinhaz) for the past 13 years, told the BBC that the appointment was "incomprehensible - part of an absurd, even tragicomic drama".
During his time in office, he staged around 90 plays, of which about half were by Hungarian authors.During his time in office, he staged around 90 plays, of which about half were by Hungarian authors.
"Theatre is about openness to the world. But what he is trying to do is to close it to the world. This would not be possible in France or England or Germany." "Theatre is about openness to the world," he said.
"But what he is trying to do is to close it to the world. This would not be possible in France or England or Germany."
Several actors at the theatre have already announced their intention to quit, others are uncertain what to do.Several actors at the theatre have already announced their intention to quit, others are uncertain what to do.
In response to the uproar, the mayor has asked Gyorgy Dorner to drop two features of the tender with which he won the post - his intention to rename the theatre the Hatorszag or "Hinterland" theatre, which has militaristic undertones in Hungarian. In response to the uproar, the mayor has asked Gyorgy Dorner to drop two features of the tender with which he won the post.
And his plan to install Istvan Csurka as artistic adviser. These are his intention to rename the theatre the Hatorszag, or "Hinterland" theatre, which has militaristic undertones in Hungarian, and his plan to install Istvan Csurka as artistic adviser.
The mayor has also said he will review his decision after a year - even though Gyorgy Dorner's contract is for five years.The mayor has also said he will review his decision after a year - even though Gyorgy Dorner's contract is for five years.
Rival protestRival protest
As mainly liberal and leftist protesters occupied the narrow streets in front of the New Theatre, a rival group of 200-300 members of the New Hungarian Guard and Civil Guard for a Better Future - both linked to Jobbik - gathered in the boulevard nearby. Hundreds of mainly liberal and leftist protesters occupied the narrow streets in front of the New Theatre.
A rival group of 200-300 members of the New Hungarian Guard and Civil Guard for a Better Future - both linked to Jobbik - gathered in the boulevard nearby.
The two sets of protesters were kept apart by riot police.The two sets of protesters were kept apart by riot police.
"I tell our skinhead friends, we are Hungarians too, and that we are also here so that the future will be a bit better for them as well in our country. Because the hatred that they represent in bigger and bigger numbers leads nowhere," one of the speakers at the rally, lawyer Daniel Peter, told the crowd. "I tell our skinhead friends, we are Hungarians too, and that we are also here so that the future will be a bit better for them as well in our country," one of the speakers at the rally, lawyer Daniel Peter told the crowd.
"Because the hatred that they represent in bigger and bigger numbers leads nowhere."
"I came to protest against the anti-fascists," said Laszlo Attila, 41, a spokesman for the rival, uniformed protest, from the southern town of Bekescsaba."I came to protest against the anti-fascists," said Laszlo Attila, 41, a spokesman for the rival, uniformed protest, from the southern town of Bekescsaba.
"We wholeheartedly support the appointment of Gyorgy Dorner. At last a Hungarian theatre has a boss who believes in the Hungarian nation.""We wholeheartedly support the appointment of Gyorgy Dorner. At last a Hungarian theatre has a boss who believes in the Hungarian nation."
He might now even start going to the theatre himself, he said.He might now even start going to the theatre himself, he said.
Similar groups affiliated with the far-right were banned, after they marched through largely Roma-populated ghettos in rural Hungarian towns and villages.Similar groups affiliated with the far-right were banned, after they marched through largely Roma-populated ghettos in rural Hungarian towns and villages.
But the two far-right groups at this rally are "completely legal" according to Laszlo Attila, who said they arrived by bus from all over Hungary. But the two far-right groups at this rally are "completely legal" according to Laszlo Attila, who said they had arrived by bus from all over Hungary.
Just why the centre-right Fidesz government allowed the appointment of such a controversial figure as Gyorgy Dorner is a mystery to many Fidesz supporters, while critics of the government say it is proof of collaboration between Fidesz and the far-right. Just why the centre-right Fidesz government allowed the appointment of such a controversial figure as Gyorgy Dorner is a mystery to many Fidesz supporters, while critics of the government say it is proof of collaboration between Fidesz and the far right.
"This is not a government, but a metropolitan issue," the Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics told the BBC last October. "This is not a government, but a metropolitan issue," Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics told the BBC last October.
"This was a decision of the mayor of Budapest, and we should not interfere... with the autonomy of the city council. So let us see who are the stronger - the supporters or the protesters.""This was a decision of the mayor of Budapest, and we should not interfere... with the autonomy of the city council. So let us see who are the stronger - the supporters or the protesters."