It’s always a little awkward when you take an extreme stance on something, only to find out that you form part of the very group you’re hating on. As the leader of Hungary’s far-right Jobbik Party, Csanad Szegedi was very outspoken against any and all Jews. Until a branch on his family tree decided to smack him in the face.

Szegedi has been speaking out and rallying against Hungarian Jews ever since he joined the far-right movement, accusing them of desecrating national symbols and buying up the country. He has also spoken out against the Jewishness of the country’s political elite. He joined the political party after founding the Hungarian Guard, a group modelled on a post-war pro-Nazi group. The Hungarian Guard was disbanded by the courts in 2009.

He’s had a change of heart though – after he found out his parents were Jewish. Even more so, so are his grandparents on his mother’s side. According to Jewish law, faith is passed from mother to child, making him Jewish as well. His grandfather and grandmother were both Nazi prisoners, she an Auschwitz survivor, and he a victim of forced labour camps.

Since the news broke, Szegedi’s political career has pretty much nosedived, all credibility having been lost. He has since sought the counsel of a rabbi, who is now helping him come to terms with everything. He has also apologised for all statements that may have caused offense, and has vowed to visit Auschwitz to pay his respects.

And you thought South African politics is fucked up?

[Source: TheStar.com]