July 22nd, 2008

Roma leader challenges Orbán on Fidesz ties to Hungarian Guard

The head of Hungary’s National Gypsy Minority Self-Government (Országos Cigány Önkormányzat, OCÖ) has written a letter to Fidesz chairman leader Viktor Orbán requesting an explanation for reports that some members of Orbán’s party are supporting the far-right Hungarian Guard, reports index.hu.

In his letter, ÖCO President Orbán Kolompár said the most recent actions of the Guard could not have been realized without the support from local Fidesz members, contrasting this with the Fidesz leader’s public words about assisting the country’s Roma minority.

Kolompár decided to turn to Orbán after revelations that a weekend demonstration by the Guard held in Szikszó was organized with the assistance of the local deputy mayor, despite efforts by the town’s Socialist mayor to prevent the event from taking place. According to Kolompár, other members of Fidesz assisted the Guard in a similar manner.

Fidesz spokesperson Péter Szíjjártó replied by saying that, while the leadership of the party has not yet taken into consideration the issues Kolompár has raised, they will reply to the letter.

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