Hungarian guard induction ceremony raises concerns

Fifty-five members of the paramilitary Magyar Gárda ("Hungarian Guard") took part in an induction ceremony held in Budapest's Castle District on Saturday. Attended by a few thousand people, several counter-demonstrations were also staged in response over the weekend.

Saturday afternoon saw the official induction of members of the Hungarian Guard paramilitary group founded by far-right party Jobbik. In attendance was former defense minister Lajos Für, as well as Fidesz MP Mária Wittner, who according to Fidesz had not made known to the party her intention to attend.

The Hungarian Guard, which claims its purpose as a revival of Hungarian traditions and a real system change, (as opposed to the system change of 1989/1990), has been controversial from the moment it was announced. Its detractors call it a fascist revival organization, while its supporters see it as preserving Hungarian identity.

Speaking at the event, Jobbik chairman Gábor Vona declared Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány the country's biggest embarrassment, and added that he had stripped children of their childhoods. He further announced plans to establish a "Bank for Hungarian Families" which would be non-profit, adding that he looked forward to the day when the Carpathian Basin would once again be loud from the sounds of infants, no doubt a reference to Hungary's low birth-rate.

Nearby at Dózsa György tér just outside the Castle District, 500 people joined together to protest the founding of the Hungarian Guard, some wearing shirts that read "I'm Hungarian, not a guardist." The speakers drew parallels between Hungary's fascist period from 1944-1945, and the development of the guard today.

The controversy over Saturday's event has also led to accusations between Hungary's parliamentary political parties. Fidesz Vice Chairman Mihály Varga announced that the rise of the guard is a response to Prime Minister Gyurcsány's actions of the past year. Government spokeswoman Bernadett Budai stated that since Fidesz refused to condemn the movement, they have shown that they support them. (Fidesz had asked the Hungarian Guard to observe all laws in their activities in a press conference earlier that day.)

Zsuzsa Halász, spokeswoman for the Christian Democratic People's Party, asked the government to stop its fear mongering, a sentiment also shared by Socialist MP and president of the parliament Katalin Szili, although Szili's comment was not specifically directed at anyone or any party. The Socialist Party has also asked President László Sólyom to publicly announce his position with respect to the Hungarian Guard.

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