The Jobbik's self-portayal in the midst of an already vicious pre-election campaign is more than thought-provoking. The consequences are unclear. They want to move into areas that politics has not yet colonised. They want to cross a line, not just in their aims but also in their actions. Until now, that boundary has had a name: István Csurka.

The Jobbik have never denied that they want to blaze a more radical trail in Hungarian politics than we have seen before. They want to be harsher, more focused - and certainly more effective - than Csurka. Their "Third Way" electoral alliance with Csurka is an attempt to maintain their radical background. Their most recent statement highlights that aim: "...In response to the verbal hungarophobia of the government parties...the Jobbik seek to recruit activists for a resistance movement for the self-defence of the Hungarian nation. Extreme liberals and socialists are trying to undermine the historical, sacred and state symbols of the Hungarian nation by seizing our property and by carrying out brutal attacks on us. They are doing this whether the symbol in question is shield of the House of Árpád, the Holy Crown, the Cross, the Bible, the Naional Anthem or the national tricolore rosette." No need to quote further.

Natinal self-defence? A resistance movement? We can only hope that sober judgement wins out even amongst the right wing's more radical supporters. We can hope that they are not roped into these disturbing adventures. But if not? And if the Jobbik get into parliament? Then we have no option other than to force the Jobbik's activists to respect the rules of democracy, regardless of their wild rhetoric. Even if this will not be easy - for them, or for us.

Lajos V. Mohai