Disillusionment with mainstream politics and economic hardship gave rise to Jobbik in Hungary. Its nationalist ideology and strong anti-Roma rhetoric quickly made it the leading radical force, deepening social tensions and discrimination.
Radicalism and Anti-Roma Rhetoric
Jobbik’s emergence as a political party in 2003 could be seen as a form of political ‘mourning’ after the right-wing defeat of 2002, but the party truly gained momentum in 2006, when the leaked speech of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány triggered widespread demonstrations and riots. Responding to the perceived impotence of the mainstream elite and the economic crisis, the founders built their ideology around national sovereignty and anti-globalism, declaring their goal to be the ‘completion of the regime change.’
The movement’s success was also based on the deliberate scapegoating of the Roma community. By spreading the concept of “Gypsy crime,” the party further reinforced the narrative present in society that linked ethnic origin to certain crimes. This rhetoric resonated particularly among those struggling with economic hardship, thus reinforcing social division and marginalization.
“The problems of the country – and Gyöngyös – are caused by the fact that certain groups or entities are living off the honest majority. First among these is politics, followed by international capital, and thirdly, that part of the Roma minority who feel that only the laws granting them benefits apply to them, and none of the others.”
Gábor Vona
the founder and former leader of the Jobbik party
Further Reading / Sources
A nemzeti radikalizmus – A jobboldali radikalizmus negyedik hulláma Magyarországon. In Zs. Boda & A. Körösényi (Eds.), Van irány? Trendek a magyar politikában (pp. 83–108)
Tóth, A., & Grajczjár, I. (2013). Budapest: Új Mandátum Könyvkiadó
Tudatos radikalizmus: A Jobbik útja a parlamentbe, 2003–2010. In: Bíró-Nagy, A. and Róna, D. (eds.) Nemzet és radikalizmus: Egy új pártcsalád felemelkedése Európában
Bíró-Nagy, A., & Róna, D. (2011). Budapest: L’Harmattan Kiadó, pp. 219–253