Gábor Vona
Gábor Vona | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman of the Jobbik | |
| Assumed office November 25, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Dávid Kovács |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 August 1978 Gyöngyös, Hungary |
| Political party | Movement for a Better Hungary |
| Residence(s) | Óbuda, Budapest, Hungary |
| Occupation | politician |
| Profession | product manager |
Gábor Vona (born Gábor Zázrivecz) is a Hungarian politician and the leader of the Hungarian nationalist political party Jobbik. He was born on 20 August 1978 in Gyöngyös. He studied history and psychology at the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest.
According to Vona's biography,[1] the family's name was originally Vona but Gábor's grandfather, also called Gábor, died in World War II in Russia and his grandmother got married to a Zázrivecz who adopted Gábor's father. So, allegedly, he took back his rightful name. The name changed occurred when he was in college.
He worked as a teacher for a short period of time. He lives in Óbuda with his wife and with his first child Benedek. His parents are pensioners. Vona was a founding member of Jobbik, first becoming deputy chairman, he was then elected as party leader in 2006.
In 2009 Vona repeatedly called for a change of government and for Hungary's ruling politicians to be "held to account",[2] referring to among others, Ferenc Gyurcsány and Gordon Bajnai. He considers himself an "EU realist" arguing that the EU should take a new direction increasing the role of nations.[3] Vona argues that the national police should be greatly strengthened and supports introducing an American style "three strikes law".[4]
He was the Jobbik's candidate for the position of Prime Minister of Hungary on the 2010 Hungarian parliamentary election.[5] In a press conference Vona said it will be not a simple election, rather the people will vote on the past sixty years, and that the destiny of Hungary must be given back to Hungarians, rather than Hungarians being second-class citizens in their own country.[6]
After the elections the party's congress elected him to the leader of the Jobbik parliamentary group. Vona became a member of the parliamentarian Committee of Agriculture, and its sub-committees', the Sub-Committee of Viticulture and Winery and the Sub-Committee of Renewal Resources.
Magyar Gárda
In June 2007, Vona founded the radical nationalist Magyar Gárda (Hungarian Guard). The organization was disbanded by the Metropolitan Court of Budapest (Fővárosi Bíróság) 16 December 2008 on the grounds that the activities of the organization "were against the human rights of minorities as guaranteed by the Hungarian Constitution".
At a rally before the 2010 election, Vona insisted that, if elected, he would wear a Gárda uniform to first day of parliament.[7] Vona, to much controversy, followed up at the opening session of the new Hungarian parliament on 14 May 2010, wearing a white shirt and a black vest from the banned uniform of the organization. Outgoing Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai called on the Justice Minister Imre Forgács to file a procedure against Vona. Vona said that if the vest was illegal he would see it as an act of civil disobedience, and was willing to face the consequences. [8][9]
References
- ^ Vona's biography on the page of Jobbik
- ^ Jobbik demands "corrupt" politicians be held to account
- ^ EP–választás, 2009: „Nemzetek Európáját szeretnénk”
- ^ Erősíteni kell a nemzettudatot
- ^ Vonát miniszterelnöknek, Morvait köztársasági elnöknek jelölte a Jobbik
- ^ Vona Gábor: nem egy egyszerű kormányváltásról lesz szó
- ^ http://www.politics.hu/20100409/justice-minister-reports-jobbik-leader-to-prosecutor-over-garda-link
- ^ "Lawmaker wears outlawed outfit in Hungary". boston.com. May 14, 2010.
- ^ "Hungary's new Parliament holds inaugural session". Politics.Hu. May 17, 2010.