Ferenc Erdei

Who was Ferenc Erdei?

Ferenc Erdei was a Hungarian politician, who served as Interior Minister in the unofficial Interim government which led by Béla Miklós. After the Soviet occupation of Hungary the cabinet could take the office officially. During the communist rule Erdei was the Minister of Agriculture between 1949 and 1953. Like this he was responsible for the "attic sweepings" and happenings in the villages, on country in connection with atrocities. From July 1953 he worked as Minister of Justice.

He was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, he was one of the leaders of the Hungarian delegation who negotiated with the Soviets. In 3 November he was arrested together with Minister of Defence Pál Maléter, but after some weeks Erdei could left freely because of János Kádár's intervention.

From 1957 he was the Secretary-General of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He received Kossuth Prize twice.

Erdei also was Secretary-General of the National Council of the Patriotic People's Front between 1964 and 1970.