The official Facebook page of the Hungarian EU presidency used a song of (the right-wing extremist rock group) Kárpátia to promote Hungarian pálinka (the renowned national alcoholic drink), and next week’s Pálinka Festival. The video for the Kárpátia song was published on the site together with its English translation. The last verse of the song starts with the words: "Strong, like a boot sewn three times, Like a boot, Like a boot – In which we march into Kolozsvár, Kolozsvár [Kolozsvár, a town in Romania]."

Not long after the publication of the post the first outraged comments appeared – and the editor of the site replied. A reader complained how one could use a “Nazi rock song” to promote pálinka. The editor’s answer: there is nothing wrong about this song; it only deals with the brilliance of the famous Hungarian drink. Following further angry comments, the editor apologised by saying that they had had no intention to offend anyone.

Sunday afternoon the song was removed, together with the related comments. After 19.00 the editors returned to the issue and wrote: “At 11.00 hours, on May 1st, 2011., due to the negligence of the editor, a video appeared on the site of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with which the Presidency cannot identify itself, in any way or form. At 17.13 hours the post was removed. We ask for your apologies.”

http://index.hu/belfold/2011/05/01/karpatia-dallal_nepszerusiti_a_palinkat_a_magyar_unios_elnokseg_facebook-oldala/

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 May 2011 10:54