27 August 2007
Members of the far-right paramilitary ‘Magyar Garda’ (“Hungarian Guard”) were sworn in next to the presidential palace in Budapest by leaders of the extreme-right party Jobbik on Saturday. The ceremony was watched by about 1,000 party members and supporters, and several hundred bemused tourists. Nearby, hundreds of protesters joined a demonstration organized by anti-fascist groups, including Jewish and Roma organisations.
At the swearing-in ceremony, many were seen waving the red-and-white striped Arpad flag, a historic flag reminiscent of the one used by Hungary’s pro-Nazi Arrow Cross Regime during World War II. Uniforms were also adorned with the emblem. "The Magyar Garda was formed to execute a true transition and to save the Hungarian people," Jobbik president and guard founder Gabor Vona told the crowd. A well-known parliamentarian of the opposition Fidesz party also took part in the swearing-in ceremony, as did Catholic and Protestant clerics.
Earlier last week, the World Jewish Congress (WJC), the European Jewish Congress (EJC) and the Hungarian Jewish umbrella group Mazsihisz asked prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany to ban the guard, whose formation WJC president Lauder and EJC president Kantor called "an extremely alarming development" amid "rising anti-Semitism in Europe". Gyurcsany has condemned the creation of the Hungarian Guard, saying it was "the disgrace of Hungary and Hungarian democracy".
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