TOL Hungary

Ongoing Debate: Fascism in Hungary?

September 4th, 2007 by robertnemeth

One and a half weeks have passed since the inauguration of the Hungarian Guards. Since then the political debate surrounding it is not smaller, but even bigger and bigger. Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány speaks about the resurrection of fascism, while Fidesz, the bigger opposition party accuses him with inciting hysteria.

While the first 56 members were attesting in the castle, there were anti-protests as well. A Hungarian philosopher even called the Guards the “Hungarian SS”. Jobbik, the party which is behind the guards is known for its anti-Roma rhetoric and it was among those who organized the protest against the Gay Pride that turned violent early July. Furthermore, members of another organization appeared in the castle: the National Guardian Army, with an arm-badge that is similar to the one of the Hungarists (Hungarian Nazis in the Forties).

There were also three priests at the event: a Catholic, a Protestant and an Evangelistic, and they blessed the flag of the Guards. Later on, the Churches said: they were not representing their organization. Furthermore, one of the speakers was Mária Wittner, an MP of Fidesz. Many of the founder members of the Guards attended previously Fidesz-rallies as well, while the party is in alliance with Jobbik in some regional self-governments.

That was why Prime Minister Gyurcsány called upon the Fidesz to say no to the Guards. The smaller opposition party, the conservative MDF organized an international press conference as well, and it invited all the parties in the Parliament.

But before that, a photo was published on the website of a radio that is connected to the political right. It showed under-secretary Gábor Szetey in front of the Auschwitz concentration camp with a pink triangle on his chest. The whole government protested against it - the editor-in-chief was fired.

But then, on the international press-conference there was a huge quarrel again between Gyurcsány and Tibor Navracsics, the leader of the Fidesz-faction in the parliament. Gyurcsány talked about fascist danger and he said: there should be no explanation, just a fight against fascism. And he added: Fidesz legitimizes fascism because its politicians including party-leader (and former Prime Minister) Viktor Orbán and Navracsics give interviews to newspapers that, according to Gyurcsány, spread fascist ideas. So, he again requested Fidesz to keep a distance from the extreme right.

The opinion of the Fidesz is of course different. They say that the whole scandal is only good for Gyurcsány and the Socialists because they can incite hysteria and thus distract the attention about the austerity measures.

There was something interesting at the press conference though. The liberal party, the coalition partner of the Socialists said: there is no fascist danger and no fascism in Hungary, just some fascists.

Actually, in a sense they are right. There is no, and there has never been any fascism in Hungary. The Hungarian extreme right was always connected to the German-type Nazism, and not to the Mediterranean fascism. But the expression Nazi is coming from National-Socialism and this was uncomfortable during the communism. So, fascism became the official framework for the extreme right.

It is not easy to judge whether there is really a resurrection of Nazism in Hungary. It is sure that these ideas are popular among several people, while there are signs that everyday Anti-Semitism and racism (against Roma) are widespread. However, in a few weeks it will be clear how strong the extreme-right is: the 18th of September is the first anniversary of the tv-siege…

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