COMMENT: Hungarian politics have seen the recent resurgence of fascist/xenophobic political parties similar in tone and nature to the Arrow-Cross Party that led Hungary during its World War II collaboration with the Nazis.
In addition to the Fidesz organization, currently the dominant political element in that country, the Jobbik Party has been gaining strength and echoing many of the themes of the Nazi era.
A Jobbik politician has now called for the compiling of a list of Jews. Deja vu all over again!
“Anger as Hungary Far-Right Leader Demands Lists of Jews” by Marton Dunai; Reuters; 11/27/2012.
EXCERPT: A Hungarian far-right politician urged the government to draw up lists of Jews who pose a “national security risk”, stirring outrage among Jewish leaders who saw echoes of fascist policies that led to the Holocaust.
Marton Gyongyosi, a leader of Hungary’s third-strongest political party Jobbik, said the list was necessary because of heightened tensions following the brief conflict in Gaza and should include members of parliament.
Opponents have condemned frequent anti-Semitic slurs and tough rhetoric against the Roma minority by Gyongyosi’s party as populist point scoring ahead of elections in 2014. . . .
. . . Jobbik’s anti-Semitic discourse often evokes a centuries-old blood libel — the accusation that Jews used Christians’ blood in religious rituals.
“Jobbik has moved from representing medieval superstition (of the blood libel) to openly Nazi ideologies,” wrote Slomo Koves, chief rabbi of the Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation.
Jobbik registered as a political party in 2003, and gained increasing influence as it radicalized gradually, vilifying Jews and the country’s 700,000 Roma.
The group gained notoriety after founding the Hungarian Guard, an unarmed vigilante group reminiscent of World War Two-era far-right groups. It entered Parliament at the 2010 elections and holds 44 of 386 seats. . . .
. . . More than half of Hungary’s electorate is undecided and having retained its voter base, s ome analysts say Jobbik could hold the balance of power in the 2014 elections between Fidesz and the fragmented left-wing opposition.
i guess it’s put up or shut up time for the hungarian people. as the song goes, “WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?”
Boss, I’ll get on this right away!
@“Fred Malek”–
Sharp wit! This is, of course, not “the real” Fred Malek, who was tasked (by Nixon) with purging the Bureau of Labor Statistics of Jews.
Malek, BTW, was also one of the founders of the Carlyle Group.
Best,
Dave
OK then:
Europe’s far-right tide is still on the rise: