Hungarian diplomats celebrate with neo-Nazi Jobbik in New York City

Hungary’s previous ambassador to Washington DC., western-educated Mr. György Szapáry refused to meet with leaders and supporters of Hungary’s neo-Nazi Jobbik party. He would walk out from the room if Jobbik members showed up at an event.

With the arrival of Ms. Réka Szemerkényi, Hungary’s first female Ambassador to the US, all this has changed. Ms. Szemerkényi has personally met with Jobbik leaders in Washington, briefed them, and later wrote to us that as a diplomat she had to do it. Hmm. (Read here Amb. Szemerkényi’s note to HFP.)

Now Hungarian diplomats in Los Angeles and New York frequently meet with far-right Hungarian-American groups and individuals, and are even celebrating Hungarian national holidays together!

New York Jobbik party members line up for group photo.

New York Jobbik party members line up for group photo.

In March the Hungarian Consulate in New York organized a commemoration and remembrance of the 1848 Revolution at the Kossuth Statue at Riverside Drive and local Jobbik boss Mr. László Baumeister laid a wreath at the statue with the Hungarian diplomats present. Later in the New York Hungarian House (213 E 82nd St, New York, NY 10028) Mr. Baumeister attended the program with Mr. Ferenc Kumin, Consul General in New York and Mr. Imre Szakács, Consul for the Hungarian Diaspora.

New York Jobbik leader Mr. Baumeister and Hungarian diplomats Mr. Kumin and Mr. Szakács.

New York Jobbik leader Mr. Baumeister and Hungarian diplomats Mr. Kumin and Mr. Szakács.

New York Jobbik leader Mr. Baumeister at the Kossuth statue.

New York Jobbik leader Mr. Baumeister at the Kossuth statue.

In the past, the Hungarian House was an independent organization and rarely collaborated with Hungarian officials or political parties. Under the directorship of Ms. Ildikó Nagy, a recent Hungarian immigrant and member of Mr. Orbán’s Diaspora Council, all this has changed. The Hungarian House now willingly organizes far-right events, like a celebration of the anti-Semitic writer and convicted WWII criminal Albert Wass. Hungarian diplomats also receive a podium there to spread their government’s anti-immigrant right-wing propaganda. To be fair, the House also stages valuable cultural events, but the close association with Jobbik and other far-right Hungarian individuals is unacceptable. (Read – Ms. Nagy is honored by the Hungarian Government.)

 New York Hungarian House director Ms. Ildikó Nagy is acknowledged by Hungarian Consul Mr. Kumin.

New York Hungarian House director Ms. Ildikó Nagy is acknowledged by Hungarian Consul Mr. Kumin.

It seems that Hungarian diplomats are eager to build relationships with far-right Hungarian-Americans and even encourage them to lobby on behalf of the embattled Orbán-government. Instead of listening to the critical voices expressed by the majority of Hungarian-Americans, instead of responding to the suggestions of numerous US organizations, NGOs and experts and instead of making policy changes, Hungary’s diplomats continue the hopeless PR battle to improve the Orbán’s image. Now they even solicit support from Hungarian-American Jobbik sympathizers!

Hungary’s diplomats in the US shouldn’t cater to Jobbik, the right thing to do would be to step up efforts and fight their presence in North-America.

György Lázár

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