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8/27/07

TP: Democracy in Hungary: coming apart at the extremes - by John Horvath

For the complete report from TP click on this link

Democracy in Hungary: coming apart at the extremes - by John Horvath

Over the weekend the Hungarian Guard was inaugurated in the Castle District overlooking Budapest. As fifty-six people became the first ever members of this organization (the number fifty six symbolizing the Hungarian Revolution of 1956), various groups below demonstrated against what they view as the formation of a new version of fascist storm troopers. Plenty of police were on hand in order to keep the groups apart, and except for a few shouts and taunts, the event and demonstrations passed of peacefully.

The Hungarian Guard was recently formed with the backing of the Jobbik Party. The word jobbik is Hungarian for "more right", alluding to the fact that the party holds itself as a true, more right-wing party. The party was foremost organised by former supporters of the Hungarian Truth and Life Party (MIEP) which is considered by most political analysts as a radical right wing party. The anti-Semitic writing of its leader, Istvan Csurka, has led many to regard the MIEP as an extreme far-right party, with many going so far as to calling it neo-fascist.

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