Hungary far-right party forms uniformed ‘self-defense’ group

14 May 2019, 7:24 pm Edit

A far-right party in Hungary says it is forming a uniformed “self-defense group” in the spirit of the Hungarian Guard, which a court ordered disbanded in 2009.

Laszlo Toroczkai, head of the Our Homeland Movement, says the new National Legion will primarily focus on the “guarding of traditions” and teaching basic military skills. He says it will be available to provide help after natural disasters and to support people facing evictions from their homes.

Laszlo Toroczkai, first row center, head of Hungary’s far-right Our Homeland Movement, announces the formation of the National Legion, a “self-defense group” created in the spirit of the Hungarian Guard, in Budapest, Hungary, May 14, 2019 (AP Photo/Pablo Gorondi)

Vince Szava, head of a minority rights advocacy group, condemned the National Legion plan and called for preventing “the advance of neo-Nazi ideas.”

— AP