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Ideology Hungarian nationalismHungarian irredentismUltranationalism | ||
The Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement (Hungarian: Hatvannégy Vármegye Ifjúsági Mozgalom, HVIM) is a far-right movement in Hungary advocating the unification of all ethnic Hungarians that live outside of Hungary and the revision of the Treaty of Trianon from 1920, which defined the current borders of the Hungarian state. Until 2013 the leader of the 64 Counties Youth Movement was László Toroczkai.
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It is named in memory of Greater Hungary, which was divided into 64 counties - although it is an anachronism, because the Kingdom of Hungary had only 63 counties.
Ties to other organisations
The HVIM is responsible for organising the yearly Magyar Sziget festival. The youth movement has ties to the Betyársereg ('Army of Outlaws'), a black-clad 'self-defense force' that has a motor club as well. This group is also present at the HVIM youth camps, teaching kids survival skills as well as Hungarian history.
Charges on attempted terrorist act
On December 1, 2015, István Beke, a member of the organization, was arrested by the Romanian authorities for planning to detonate an improvised explosive device in Târgu Secuiesc during the Great Union Day parade. Beke was charged with "attempted actions against constitutional order and failure to observe the rules governing the explosive materials regarding the prevention and combat of terrorism" (Agerpress).
Zoltán Szőcs, the leader of HVIM’s Transylvanian chapter, was also detained. According to the Romanian prosecutor’s office, Szőcs had incited Beke and other activists to produce home-made bombs, which would be detonated during the national holiday.
On 1 February 2016 the arrest warrants of the two HVIM members were extended by 30 more days.