Hungarian politician condemned for asking to count Jews

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s government and opposition parties have condemned a far-right politician who called for a survey of how many Jews there are in Hungary, especially in the government and the legislature.

Marton Gyongyosi, a deputy of the far-right Jobbik party, said Monday in Parliament that the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a timely opportunity to assess “how many people of Jewish origin there are who represent a certain national security risk for Hungary.”

In statements released Tuesday, the government said it “most categorically condemns” Gyongyosi’s remarks, while the largest opposition group, the Socialist Party, advocated for stricter laws against hate speech. Deputies from the other opposition groups said they were also outraged by Gyongyosi’s proposal.