Red Stars to Fall All Over Hungary

BUDAPEST, Hungary —  The red star, symbol of Communist rule in the Soviet Bloc for four decades, will be removed from all public buildings in Hungary to reflect the country’s move to a multiparty democracy.

Government spokesman Zsolt Bajnok told reporters Friday that the time had come to replace the red star with the Hungarian coat of arms.

“In previous decades, the symbols of the working class movement were widely used, but now state symbols will take their place on public buildings,” he said.

Currently the red star decorates all Hungarian public buildings, including government ministries, radio and television, regional and local government buildings and factories.