The Roma make up about 7 percent of Hungary's 10 million people, and are overrepresented among the poor and unemployed. Discrimination is widespread. According to one survey, only about one-third of Hungarians would let their child be friends with a Roma child. A founding member of the ruling centre-right Fidesz party wrote in a Magyar Hirlap newspaper: "A significant part of the Roma are unfit for coexistence. They are not fit to live among people. These Roma are animals and they behave like animals."
Anton Pelinka, a professor of nationalism studies at the Central European University in Budapest, stated that while anti-Roma sentiments have always existed in Hungary, in the last few years they have become "more open, more visible".
Critics blame the nationalist Jobbik party for inflaming racism against the Roma and the country's Jewish community. Jobbik became the third-strongest part in Hungary's 2010 national election, winning 17 percent of the vote. According to a poll conducted in 2012, Jobbik is the most popular party among Hungarians under the age of 30. Although Jobbik probably stands little chance of winning a national election, the party could siphon off support from centre-right Fidesz. Jobbik members often talk about "gypsy crime", blaming the Roma for an increase in violence. Jobbik Vice President Tamás Sneider said he was concerned about the increase in the Roma population, especially in the countryside. "the Gypsies terrorise and [threaten] Hungarian inhabitants," he claimed.
Jewish leaders said anti-Semitism is rising in the country in tandem with anti-Roma sentiments. In a 2012 survey by the Anti-Defamation League, over 60 percent of Hungarian respondents said that Jews "talk too much about the Holocaust" (at least 500,000 Jewish Hungarians are thought to have been killed during the Holocaust.) and 73 percent said Jews have too much power in the business world. Jobbik often talks about "Israeli colonisation" of Hungary. About 100,000 Jewish people live in Hungary.
Anton Pelinka, a professor of nationalism studies at the Central European University in Budapest, stated that while anti-Roma sentiments have always existed in Hungary, in the last few years they have become "more open, more visible".
Critics blame the nationalist Jobbik party for inflaming racism against the Roma and the country's Jewish community. Jobbik became the third-strongest part in Hungary's 2010 national election, winning 17 percent of the vote. According to a poll conducted in 2012, Jobbik is the most popular party among Hungarians under the age of 30. Although Jobbik probably stands little chance of winning a national election, the party could siphon off support from centre-right Fidesz. Jobbik members often talk about "gypsy crime", blaming the Roma for an increase in violence. Jobbik Vice President Tamás Sneider said he was concerned about the increase in the Roma population, especially in the countryside. "the Gypsies terrorise and [threaten] Hungarian inhabitants," he claimed.
Jewish leaders said anti-Semitism is rising in the country in tandem with anti-Roma sentiments. In a 2012 survey by the Anti-Defamation League, over 60 percent of Hungarian respondents said that Jews "talk too much about the Holocaust" (at least 500,000 Jewish Hungarians are thought to have been killed during the Holocaust.) and 73 percent said Jews have too much power in the business world. Jobbik often talks about "Israeli colonisation" of Hungary. About 100,000 Jewish people live in Hungary.
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