WJC Warns Europe Of Neo-Nazi Political Party Resurgence
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - The World Jewish Congress said Tuesday it is greatly concerned about the emergence of neo-Nazi parties such as the Golden Dawn in Greece, Jobbik in Hungary, and Germany's National Democratic Party.
A study presented at the WJC assembly in Budapest, the Hungarian capital, highlighted the links regarding the strengthening of such extremist groups, the European economic crisis, and latent Nazi-type tendencies.
"Although neo-Nazi style movements and ideologies are present in other parts of the world, it is unsurprising that an ideology born in Europe would most likely show a resurgence in Europe inside the party political system," the study said.
Among its recommendations, the study told mainstream parties they should quarantine neo-Nazi groups by refusing to appear with them at public events or meeting with them in private.
The "economic crisis, which has nurtured the neo-Nazi cause, may endure or worsen," the document said. "We must be prepared for all eventualities."
In a resolution adopted by the World Jewish Congress at the end of its three-day meeting, the group led by U.S. businessman Ronald Lauder, urged countries whose constitutions allow it to urgently consider banning neo-Nazi parties or organizations "posing a threat to the safety and well-being" of minorities.
One concern of the group is Golden Dawn, Greece's third most popular party. The party, which was once marginal, is fond of Nazi literature and symbols but rejects the neo-Nazi label. Hungary's Jobbik is the second-largest opposition group in parliament, having won 16.7 percent of the vote in 2010. Germany's far-right National Democratic Party has deputies in two of Germany's 16 regional assemblies but no representation at the federal level.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke at the WJC meeting early Sunday, and the Jewish organization criticized him for failing to specifically mention, the threat posed by Jobbik.
On Tuesday, however, Lauder said he received information about a recent interview Orban gave to the Yedioth Ahronoth Israeli newspaper, where the prime minister called Jobbik "an increasing danger" to Hungarian democracy.
"This was a strong statement about Jobbik," Lauder said, apologizing for not knowing sooner about the interview published last week. "I would like that to be put in the record that the prime minister really did take a stand against Jobbik and I appreciate that."
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.