VVIn Hungary, nationalist rhetoric targeting the immigrant and Roma populations increased due to the rise of popularity of the Movement for a Better Hungary party (referred to henceforth as Jobbik). According to Jordan, right-wing extremism in Hungary has “doubled… since 2003. Hungary, once dubbed the “happiest barrack in the Soviet camp”, is arguably the unhappiest of the 10 ex-communist members who have since joined the European Union”42. The Jobbik party appeals to the educated youth by using scapegoats, and highlighting the failures of Hungarian development in comparison with its neighbours Austria and Slovakia. Their coat of arms resembles the symbol of the Arrow Cross party, the Hungarian version of Gestapo. Jobbik also maintains a militant branch, which march through minority-populated neighbourhoods in an all-black uniform and the Jobbik insignia43. As Jordan articulates, “the roots of democracy have grown, but they haven’t burrowed so deep that they cannot be shaken”44; Jobbik gained 16.7% of the vote in the most recent national election.
VVIn Greece, the Golden Dawn party was registered in 1993, but held its first congress three years earlier in 1990; years later it became known that the congress hall was adorned with Swastika flags, and members of the party had participated in the Republics Srpska army in the Bosnian War, and were present at the Srebrenica massacre45. Golden Dawn members were accused of committing “hate crimes against political opponents and ethnic minorities”46, and having open clashes with anarchists and leftist extremists. In 2009, Golden Dawn received less than half of 1% of the national vote47. As the vastness of the global financial crisis began to be understood, Golden Dawn capitalized on the anger among the population. They blamed Greece’s problems on illegal immigrants and the country’s creditors (International Monetary Fund, EU, European Central Bank); the leader of the party proposed to remove all illegal immigrants and the creditors from Greece, and place landmines around the border to prevent additional migrants from entering[4]. Their proclamations were reminiscent to those of the junta that ruled Greece from 1967-1974. Golden Dawn’s popularity rose as they adopted programs that benefitted Greek nationals only – they presented themselves as a “heroic outlaw robbing
101
42. Jordan 2010, p.99
43. Jordan 2010
44. Ibid. p.100
45. Bistis 2013
46. Ibid. p.44
47. Ibid.