Prime Minister Spreads Hungary’s Freedom : Europe: About 400 people, including many Hungarian-Americans, hear speech by Antall. Official asks for moral, financial support in helping to rebuild the nation.

Tibor Toczauer stood in the warm morning sun at MacArthur Park on Saturday and reflected on the good luck he and his fellow Hungarian-Americans were about to experience.

“Up until this last week, I couldn’t believe we would be this fortunate,” Toczauer said, referring to the impending arrival of Hungary’s prime minister, Jozsef Antall.

Toczauer, who left his native country in 1956, the same year Soviet tanks crushed a would-be uprising in Hungary, was among an estimated 400 people from Los Angeles’ Hungarian community who gathered at the park to see and hear Antall.

Antall, the country’s first democratically elected prime minister in four decades, came to commemorate the Oct. 23 rebellion. Starting next week, the date will be celebrated in Hungary as an annual holiday.

“This is the result of the first real democratic election Hungary has had in decades, and I think we have to show our support for it,” Laszlo Heredy said of Antall’s visit and the rousing welcome prepared for him.

Antall and his cabinet members were in the United States last week to boost American investment in Hungary, where economic reforms have been stymied by a $20-billion debt. On Thursday, he met with President Bush, who told him Hungary will be allowed to open a consulate in Los Angeles.

Upon his arrival here on Friday, Antall addressed local business leaders. He also attended a $55-a-person banquet in his honor at a downtown hotel. An estimated 600 people attended.

Hungarian-Americans, who number more than 90,000 in Los Angeles, have been coming to the park for years to commemorate the 1956 suppressed uprising. In 1966, the Hungarian Freedom Fighters Federation placed a monument there to honor those who fought in the rebellion.

For Antall’s appearance, the park was decorated with a huge Hungarian flag with the words “God Bless Hungary” emblazoned on it. Portable chairs were lined up on the grass, and a six-piece band played. Many wore traditional Hungarian folk costumes.

Before the prime minister spoke, the Hungarian and U.S. national anthems were sung. Folk songs were played, and colorful wreaths and bouquets were placed in front of the monument.

“Who would have believed communism was going to stop in such a short time,” said 45-year-old Charles Alexovics, who left Hungary with his parents in 1956 and went to Switzerland.

Antall addressed the crowd in his native language. He spoke of the importance of the rebellion, and asked Hungarians living in California to lend their moral and financial support, according to several who attended the ceremony and are fluent in Hungarian.

The prime minister also appealed to his audience not to let the Hungarian penchant for dwelling on the gloomy side of things get in the way of progress. “He let the fact (be) known (that) Hungarians are traditionally pessimistic and now is not the time to be,” Gabor Berczi said.

Some spectators said they believe Antall faces tough challenges in the months ahead, but he can handle them. “This guy I think is going to make a lot of good changes,” said 16-year-old Laszlo Cser.

More circumspect, but still optimistic, was 56-year-old art collector Rudolph Jeszenszky. “The man has good intentions, everyone is very anxious and everyone is waiting” to see what happens, he said.

“I feel very, very good because someone is doing something and it is legitimate,” he said. “It is of the people, by the people, for the people.”