Magyar Gárda

Political analysts say the guard's target is probably not Jews, but Hungary's substantial Roma (gypsy) population, numbering about 600,000 of the country's 10 million people.

"Many people say their main topic is anti-Semitism, but it is their anti-Roma base... (and stoking) the conflict between Roma and non-Roma in Hungarian society. From this point of view they are dangerous," said Peter Kreko at thinktank Political Capital.

One of the guard's supporters in Sunday's crowd made clear he regarded gypsies as a problem.

"In Hungary everyone who wants order is labelled a racist ... they (Roma) live with filth and dirt and if anybody wants to do away with this then they are labelled a racist," said Istvan Szemecs, a middle-aged man carrying a red and white flag.

What is the Hungarian Guard and what is it created for? What's the aim, the reason for it?What are you going to do on the 25th August and why? What about the crosses, is it a misunderstanding, an invention?


Hungarian Guard were founded by 10 members led by Gabor Vona, Jobbik president. The Hungarian Guard is to be a national association that was established in early August with the aim to provide “physical, mental or spiritual self-defence” for Hungary and its members. Its members will be trained so they would be able to assist and help in emergencies such as flooding, earthquakes etc. The Hungarian Guard would also organise events that would help cultivate Hungarian history and traditions. Members of the guard would be ready to defend Hungary in a time of war. The initiation ceremony of the Hungarian Guard is to be conducted by Lajos Für, who was Defence Minister and president of the MDF in the mid 1990s. The first 56 Guards to have a swearing-in ceremony on 25 August at Buda Castle, the historical seat of Hungarian royalty.

The party members plan to wear black uniforms bearing the controversial Árpád Stripes, a medieval coat of arms. Jobbik and the Hungarian Guard have been unfairly blamed for using these Arpad-stripes, as some people -mistakenly- associate these stripes with the ones used by the nazi-collaborant Arrow Cross Party during 2nd World War. The liberal media and the socialist government continiously attempting to label Jobbik as a fascist, extreme right-wing party for using these Arpad stripes (which is actually completely different from the one used by the Arrow Cross Party in the 40's). I am not sure where the nazi crosses come from in your question, probably another attempt by the left-wing media to throw mud on the Hungarian Guard.

You say you're a movement for a better hungary. Could you explain, what is wrong in Hungary? What would you change?

I would quote Gabor Vona, president of Jobbik here: "We want a new change of regime. The last 17 years have gone in the wrong direction, the real transition has not happened."
It refers to the end of the cold-war when Hungary adopted democracy in 1990 after 40 years of communism. After 17 years we can say that while democracy were introduced again, the very same people were left in power with even more hunger for power and wealth. Ferenc Gyurcsany, current Prime Minister became very rich very quick during the years of privatisation in the 90's under quite suspicious circumstances. He was a member and leader of the Young Communists prior to 1990 with extended political and business relations. This is a very good example how the communist power and money was transferred into the "new era". The government, the police and constitutional organisations are still infiltrated with ex-communists that makes it very hard to achieve clear and fair democracy. Jobbik have initiated a referendum last year based on the Polish (and other Eastern-European) example to clear the public sector from people actively taking part in communist movements before 1990, but it was tackled by the National Poll Organisation.

The last 6 years have "brought the fruit" of incompetent and ex-communist people leading the country. Never before seen economical crisis, we are amongst the last ones of new EU members in economical performance. Last year, there was a leaked speech of the Prime Minister Gyurcsany who admitted of "doing nothing in the last 2 years". Demonstrations followed last autumn that were brutally dispersed by the government.

In reflection of the above, we have a very clear aim of fighting for a real democracy.