The Roots of Hate

Jordan talks about Jobbik, the most dynamic new far-right party in Europe. The anti-western, anti-minority Jobbik boasts a red-and-white-striped symbol--known as the ancient Hungarian "Arpad" coat of arms--that also resembles the emblem of the murderous Nazi-era Arrow Cross Party. This group, which briefly held power from 1944-45, was responsible for killing thousands of Hungarian Jews and Gypsies, and deported tens of thousands more. Jobbik maintains a militant arm, the Magyar Garcia, or Hungarian Guard, which has marched through minority neighborhoods in black jackets and black boots sporting the Arpad insignia. In April, Jobbik capitalized on popular fury over the country's faltering economy, winning 16.7% of the vote in national elections--the greatest performance so far for the ultra-right in any of the EU's former communist states.