Jewish leaders herald ‘a dark day’ as Jobbik polls 21%
Far-right Hungarian party Jobbik has significantly increased its share of the vote in elections described by Jewish groups as “a dark day” for the country.
Having won more than one in five votes, the party with a history of anti-Semitic outbursts followed the election success of the French far-right party Front National last week, when Marine Le Pen won several towns and districts.
“This is truly a dark day for Hungary,” said Dr Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress (EJC), who said Jobbik was “an unashamedly neo-Nazi political party” that “feeds on hate”.
He added: “These gains should serve as a wake-up call for Europe, where we are witnessing democracy being appropriated by the enemies of democracy.”
Jobbik remains the third largest political party in Hungary, after an election in which incumbent premier Victor Orban of Fidssz was re-elected.
In recent years it has sought to soften its image and distance itself from its more overtly anti-Semitic attitudes.
But Jewish groups point to several examples of concern, such as in November 2012, when Jobbik lawmaker Marton Gyongyosi said a census was needed of all Jews in Hungary, together with a list of Jewish lawmakers for “national security” reasons.
Critics say Jobbik is effective at using the consternation of others to generate free publicity, as at the party’s campaign launch on the site of a former synagogue, which had a plaque on the wall commemorating 500 Jews killed in the Holocaust.
Jobbik leader Gabor Vona hailed this weekend’s result, which surprised observers and saw his party’s share of the national vote jump from 15% to more than 21%.
Cas Mudde, an analyst at the University of Georgia, said Jobbik’s showing was the strongest of any European far-right party in recent years, with the exception of Switzerland’s People’s party which won 26% of the vote.
But Kantor urged the national authorities in Hungary to turn on Jobbik, saying: “The new Hungarian government must ensure now that this hate is not tolerated, not by the government, not in parliament and not on the streets of Hungary.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
