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Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” is an umbrella term for
loosely affiliated far-left-activists and groups that resist
fascism, fascists and neo-Nazis, especially at demonstrations.
It resembles more an ideology than an organization, though some
have embraced militant tactics.
Orbán, a right-wing populist and strong Trump ally, said in
comments to state radio on Friday that he was “pleased” by
Trump's announcement that he plans to designate antifa as a
“major terrorist organization” in the United States.
"Antifa is indeed a terrorist organization," Orbán said. “In
Hungary, too, the time has come for us to classify organizations
such as antifa as terrorist organizations, following the
American model.”
It was unclear what prompted Orbán’s decision to make the move.
Antifascist groups rarely engage in political actions in
Hungary, where Orbán and his party have held near-total power
for more than 15 years.
Yet in his statements Friday, Orbán referenced a 2023 incident
in which antifascist activists engaged in assaults against
several suspected participants in an annual far-right event in
Budapest.
One of the alleged assailants, Italian antifascist activist
Ilaria Salis, was jailed in Hungary for over a year following
the assaults, resulting in a diplomatic dispute between Rome and
Budapest over her treatment in detention.
Salis was released to house arrest in May 2024 before winning a
seat in the European Parliament, as a result of which she gained
legal immunity. Hungary continues to demand that she be returned
to face trial, where prosecutors have sought an 11-year
sentence.
Orbán on Friday bemoaned Salis' release, saying antifa had “come
to Hungary and beaten peaceful people in the street, some were
beaten half to death, and then they became European members of
parliament and from there lecture Hungary on the rule of law.”
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