Hungarian Politics

Interesting to try to talk to folks about Hungarian politics.  There is a right wing neo-Nazi party, Jobbik.  I’m been asking my students and friends about it after Bill Pryor sent me a link.   Everyone says it is an extreme party that is very nationalistic and is anti-gypsy.  With the economic times the way they are, this has an appeal to some folks, who blame the gypsies for crimes in their areas.  Gypsies also tend to have a lot of children, and I detect a real concern that in the future the Hungarians will be the minority of the population.   My students told me that they do not talk politics – that it is a taboo, because the emotions are so strong that people lose friends and break with relatives over political issues.  So they do not want people to know their political persuasion.  Interesting.  Some view Jobbik as a bunch of crack pots who are extreme, but basically have no real power or threat.  Others see them as a dangerous group that is gaining ground, especially in certain areas.  They apparently dress up in military-like uniforms – these paramilitary groups were banned – but they just changed the name and still do this.  Well, one day in Pécs I came across these posters on the wall in the main shopping area – advertising Jobbik.  Susan and I also saw a poster outside a restaurant/billard parlor in Budapest.  The current government is quite unpopular – blamed for the poor economic times.  Everyone I have spoken to expects the opposition party to win the next election.  But they don’t hold a lot of hope for change, as it seems that each time a different party wins, there really isn't much change.