Guido Westerwelle today (MON) added Germany’s voice to mounting concerns over extreme nationalism in Hungary and EU criticism that Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s strong government is eroding the checks and balances common to European democracies.
“We have questions and we have some doubts,” Mr Westerwelle told Bild newspaper before addressing a meeting of the World Jewish Congress in Budapest.
“The European Commission and the Council of Europe have not concealed their criticism of the Hungarian government. It must now be spoken about openly and honestly.”
Both the EU and the Council of Europe, the post-war human rights watchdog, last week criticised Mr Orban’s government, which enjoys a two thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament, for overruling the country’s constitutional court, of controversial changes to the constitution and undermining judicial checks on government power.
Mr Westerwelle added his voice to Jewish leaders who have called on Mr Orban to do more to stem anti-Semitism by taking a “zero tolerance” approach to Jobbik, an extreme Right-wing nationalist party that is Hungary’s third largest party.
“We must never accept anti-Semitism and intolerance, – anywhere in the world, and especially not in Europe,” he said. “The free development of Jewish life in Europe is a big concern to me.
“Germany is aware of its responsibility for the darkest chapter of German and European history. That’s why we raise our voices loudly against any form of anti-Semitism. Tolerance is wisdom, tolerance of intolerance is foolish.”
Ronald S Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), accused Jobbik, which demonstrated against the organisation’s Budapest meeting on Sunday, of “dragging the good name of Hungary through the mud”.
“Hungarian Jews need you to take a firm and decisive lead,” he told Mr Orban.
“They need you to take on these dark forces. They need you to be pro-active. They need your leadership in this fight.”
The Hungarian prime minister has pledged to fight anti-Semitism and has moved to stop previous extremist demonstrations, with Jobbik protest taking place this weekend after a court ruling overturned a government ban .
“Anti-Semitism is unacceptable and intolerable,” said Mr Orban.
The WJC has criticised Mr Orban for failing to “address any recent anti- Semitic or racist incidents in the country” and accused him of failing to “provide sufficient reassurance that a clear line has been drawn between his government and the far-right fringe”.
A draft WJC resolution calls on Hungary to treat Jobbik, and its banned paramilitary wing, the New Hungarian Guard, as a fundamental threat to democracy.