VZCZCXRO0361
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHUP #0612 2371005
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251005Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4430
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0006
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 1450
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000612 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE. PLEASE PASS TO NSC JEFF 
HOVENIER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI HU
SUBJECT: OUTLAWED MAGYAR GARDA MARCHES ON 
 
REF: BUDAPEST 500 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1.  Summary.  Defying authorities, the extreme-right Jobbik 
party swore in 620 new members for the banned Magyar Garda 
movement on August 22.  In response, police intervened and 
launched legal proceedings against 176 members, including 
increasingly popular Jobbik President Gabor Vona.  End 
Summary. 
 
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3000 AND COUNTING 
----------------- 
 
¶2.  On August 22, in the midst of the four day Hungarian 
National Day celebrations, approximately 1000 people gathered 
to witness a swearing-in ceremony for 620 new Magyar Garda 
(MG) members, raising the estimated total membership since 
August 2007 in MG associated groups to more than 3,000.  The 
event, sponsored and organized by the extreme-right Jobbik 
party, took place on private land provided by a supporter in 
the village of Szentendre, north of Budapest.  Jobbik 
originally planned to hold the ceremony in Budapest, but the 
Government denied its permit request, citing the court 
verdict in July 2009 (reftel) that banned both the Magyar 
Garda Association and the Magyar Garda Movement.  Police 
entered the private land after participants marched in 
formation wearing the same uniforms used by the banned Magyar 
Garda organization.  Police initiated legal proceedings 
against 176 individuals, charging them with "participation in 
the activities of a banned social organization."  The police 
also subpoenaed Jobbik President Gabor Vona to appear in 
court August 24, at which time he stated he will file a law 
suit against the police for unlawful action to disperse the 
assembly on August 22. 
 
----------------------- 
AND IT'S A NEW MOVEMENT 
----------------------- 
 
¶3.  Jobbik President Vona claims that the "New Hungarian 
Guard Movement" has no affiliation with previous MG 
organizations and therefore does not come under the July 
court ruling.  However, legal experts expressed the view that 
adding "new" to the organization name - with the same 
uniforms and the same ideology as the MG - will not pass the 
test.  A legal dispute is also unfolding, as Vona claims that 
police had no right to interfere with activities occurring on 
private property.  However, the law on police activities 
clearly states that the police must intervene to address 
violations of the law, no matter the venue.  In a radio 
interview August 24, a member of the Hungarian Helsinki 
Committee, an organization often critical of Hungarian police 
actions, also endorsed the police response as "well-grounded." 
 
¶4.  Despite his subpoena, a very confident Gabor Vona 
responded to the police action with a public threat. 
Commenting that Magyar Garda and Jobbik members took many 
photographs of policemen in action at the MG ceremony, Vona 
said that "these policemen will not have a job when Jobbik is 
in government following the 2010 general elections." 
¶5. Comment.  Jobbik President Vona continues to attract 
significant press coverage by challenging authorities over 
the Magyar Garda Movement's legality.  In addition to the MG, 
he also announced plans to establish local "Garda 
Gendarmerie" citizen-watch groups to help ensure law and 
order in smaller towns and villages - an new twist in 
Jobbik's pitch to combat "gypsy crime."  Vona's popularity 
continues to increase following Jobbik's success in winning 
three seats in the recent European Parliamentary elections. 
He now ranks sixth out of 22 in the August poll of Hungarian 
politicians - a four point gain from July - and amongst the 
other five party presidents, Vona ranks second behind Fidesz 
Party President Viktor Orban. 
LEVINE