Jobbik

Jobbik Magyarországért Mozgalom, commonly known as Jobbik, is a Hungarian political party founded in 2003. It identifies as national-conservative and right-wing populist. In its early years it attracted voters with a platform emphasizing national sovereignty, strict immigration controls, and law-and-order priorities. The party was widely described by observers as far-right, and some members’ statements drew accusations of anti-Romani and antisemitic sentiment; the leadership has since sought to reposition the party toward a more mainstream conservative stance.

Led by Gábor Vona from the mid-2000s until 2016, Jobbik rose from a marginal movement to become the second-largest party in Hungary after the 2010 elections, winning 47 seats in parliament. It remained a major opposition force in the early 2010s, with its vote share fluctuating in subsequent elections (notably around the 2014 and 2018 cycles).

From 2015 onward, the party undertook a rebranding and ideological shift aimed at moderating rhetoric and broadening appeal beyond its nationalist base. In 2018, following leadership changes, Jobbik reaffirmed its commitment to national sovereignty and anti-corruption while downplaying some of its earlier extremist associations. A faction split the following year, forming the Our Homeland Movement (Mi Hazánk), which has pursued a more hard-line, far-right position as a separate political force.

In recent years, Jobbik has positioned itself as a nationalist yet more mainstream conservative party and has participated in broad opposition coalitions against the governing Fidesz party in elections. It remains represented in the National Assembly and in local governments, reflecting its ongoing role in Hungary’s party system.