Far-Right Nationalism in Hungary

Some 10,000 Hungarians protested in Budapest on Dec. 2 against anti-Semitic comments made recently by a member of the far-right opposition Jobbik party at Hungary's parliament. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban condemned the comments the following day. The far-right movement has deep roots in Hungary and does not appear to be abating — the recent show of opposition to it notwithstanding.

Jobbik, the far right's most prominent political faction, regularly criticizes the country's ethnic and religious minorities. But in recent years, the far right has also produced several vigilante groups that engage frequently in more serious harassment, especially of Roma, the ethnic group known commonly as Gypsies. The right wing draws much of its support from those wary of Hungary's traditional political parties, and it has become especially popular among those suffering the most from Europe's ongoing economic woes. The movement currently cannot threaten Hungary's established political order, but it could strengthen further if the Hungarian economy continues to struggle.