 While the ex-premier sympathized with their reformist demands, he was hesitant to support the movement, believing it to be too radical in its demands.While he was in favor of changes to the system, he preferred those to be made within the framework of his "New Course" of 1953–55 and not a revolutionary upheaval.He also feared that the demonstration was a provocation by Gerő and Hegedüs to frame him as inciting rebellion and to crack down on the opposition.