The Hungarian Justice and Life Party (MIÉP)
In his radio speech in 1990, István Csurka, member of the Hungarian Democratic Forum party (MDF), expressed strong nationalist sentiments and made antisemitic allusions while discussing the country’s economic and political transition. The speech provoked outrage, especially among Hungary’s Jewish community and democratic political circles, who saw it as a sign of rising far-right nationalism in the post-communist era. This incident marked the beginning of Csurka’s increasing alignment with radical nationalist politics, culminating in the founding of the Hungarian Justice and Life Party (MIÉP) in 1993, which became known for its xenophobic and antisemitic rhetoric. Under Csurka, MIÉP openly promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories, advocated for the revision of the Treaty of Trianon and targeted Roma communities in its discourse. MIÉP spent one term in parliament after receiving 5.5% of the popular vote in the 1998 elections.
“Although today – considering a public discourse that, largely shaped by Csurka, freely indulges in anti-Jewish and anti-Roma rhetoric without any need for coded language – the writer’s remarks from 22 years ago might almost be deemed acceptable, back then they sparked a major scandal. The radio commentary, as the petition of the Hungarian Jewish Cultural Association stated, was the first in many decades to “revive the accusations and language of an era long hoped to have been left behind forever“.”
Further Reading / Sources
Politikai stílus és politikai kultúra Magyarországon a 90-es évek elején. In: Kurtán Sándor – Sándor Péter – Vass László (szerk): Magyarország Politikai Évkönyve 1993
Bihari Mihály (1993). Demokrácia Kutatások Magyar Központja Alapítvány. Budapest, pp. 58-73
Tagoltság és világkép. Csurka István politikai írásai. In: Balogh István (szerk): Törésvonalak és értékválasztások
Kiss Balázs (1994). MTA Politikai Tudományok Intézete, Budapest. pp. 483-513
A radikális jobboldali közösség 1990 – 1997. Working Papers in Political Science Politikatudományi műhelytanulmányok
Szabó Gabriella (2016)