The Government clearly distances itself from and shall act against all acts and initiatives that are anti-Semitic or offend minorities on the basis of their religion or origin, the Government Spokesman affirmed on Thursday at a press conference held on another topic in Parliament.

András Giró-Szász made the statement in reaction to the fact that according to a report by news portal Népszabadság online on Tuesday, extreme right-wing politician Lóránt Hegedűs jr. was organising an "anti-bolshevist and anti-Zionist people's rally" on May 4, to coincide with the general meeting of the World Jewish Congress, at which Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will also be present.

The Government Spokesman emphasised that until now, the Government had stressed on every occasion that it clearly distances itself from all manifestations that offend minorities, adding that he does not believe that anybody can question the Government's standpoint on this issue and that several international Jewish organisations had expressed their acknowledgment of the Government's actions.

On Monday, Prime Minster Viktor Orbán asked Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér to make sure that on April 21 no events of a political nature that would offend the human dignity of the March of the Living participants could be organised. The march is held annually in memory of the Holocaust.

The "Nationalist Bikers" association had organised a rally to coincide with the March, a move which several parties and organisations had condemned.

In reply to a question from Hungarian news agency MTI, on Tuesday evening the press office of the National Police Headquarters confirmed that the rally had been banned. However, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) wrote on Wednesday that once the Police had accepted an application to hold such an event, it had no legal opportunity to later ban the bikers' rally. The "Nationalist Bikers" association said it would go to court to have the banning of the rally repealed.

In relation to the above, the Government Spokesman said that in his speech in Parliament, the Prime Minister had made clear the ethical and moral reasons for his ordering the ban. The Government Spokesman also added that everyone has the right to seek legal redress.

Mr. Giró-Szász said that it is obvious that in the future, when they are informed of such events, the Hungarian police force must carefully consider whether the event conforms to regulations or not, and so whether it should be permitted or not.

(Prime Minister's Office)