Since assuming office, Orbán has been reluctant to react to István Csurka's coded or overt anti-Semitic remarks. One current example is the recent propaganda war waged by Csurka against the choice of Hungarian writers featured at the Frankfurt book fair. In his party newspaper, Magyar Forum, Csurka criticized the government for doing nothing about the fact that Hungary is represented by mostly Jewish authors or topics with Jewish themes at the Frankfurt fair. Csurka denounced a "Jewish occupation of literature," "a swamp where non-Jewish writers have no chance to present their works" and "the dollar-influence of a Lauder-Bronfman-group which directs all." Neither Orbán nor any spokesman of his government came out with a statement condemning Csurka's comments.

In another recent incident, after the infamous anti-Semitic tract The Protocols of the Elders of Zion was published in Hungary, the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary presented a lecture by the Israeli author and jurist Hadassah Ben-Itto which refuted the tract. Csurka lashed out at the effort in the media, saying it was an "obstacle to cleaning up and putting things in order and continues to engage in deception à la Goebbels." Again, only the Free Democrat Opposition Party (SZDSZ) reacted to Csurka's comments.

Orbán, who is not believed to be personally anti-Semitic, has said nothing to denounce anti-Semitic incidents or distance himself from comments made by the far right, or even by members of his own coalition. His deputy Prime Minister caused a commotion recently with a strange comment on the "Jewish Question." Orbán knows he would alienate some of his supporters by speaking out and therefore he and members of his ruling coalition defend themselves against criticism for not denouncing extremists by playing the "democracy" card ­ everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and freedom of speech, etc.

Orbán's own precarious political situation has made any strong statement against anti-Semitism unlikely. A year after ousting the Horn government, his popularity has dramatically declined: He is far from fulfilling his election promises and therefore the electorate has become disillusioned with him. Moreover, the feeling prevails that he is more concerned with "bashing the Socialists" than working for the general good of the country. If there were elections today, the running gag is that Orbán would win elections anywhere other than at home. Furthermore, there are rumors of corruption and nepotism connected to Orbán in the country's privatization effort. He has also brutally dismissed and appointed diplomats, cultural attachés and high-ranking media people to fit his political agenda.

Despite the current poor press, Orbán believes he can win the 2002 elections by uniting the right bloc in Hungary (FIDESZ leading a conservative right group consisting of MDF, the Smallholders of Torgyan and, eventually, splinters of Csurka's MIEP). The complicated Hungarian election system may bring him close to this goal: Already in 1998, he could only gain votes in decisive regions because Torgyan and Csurka struck a deal and recommended FIDESZ. To ensure this support, Orbán cannot afford to alienate the right.

Next: Jewish Community Reaction & Recent Anti-Semitism