It may be constitutionally questionable, but the Hungarian Self-Defence Movement's aims are clear enough to its supporters:

Gyorgy Budahazy, its leader, announced on 15 March that the Movement was carrying out a "revolution". On the movement's website, he announced that it was time to act, and that anybody who stayed at home was a coward. But he left action to the canon fodder in bomber jackets. Though he led the crowd for a good hundred meters along the route from Blaha Lujza ter to the Palace of the Arts, he was long gone before any serious disturbances broke out. Now, he is in hiding once again, at least according to Budapest Police, who are levelling no serious charges against him.

Budaházy giving autographs on Saturday © MTI

Budahazy began his streetfighting career in 2002 on the occasion of the "bridge occupation" that followed the 2002 elections. The former restaurant owner became a hero for many by leading a crowd demanding that votes be recounted. Since then, he has been a regular in street politics - organising annual commemorations of the bridge occupation and compiling a list of policemen he disliked in 2004 - he only became a national figure with the television headquarters siege. He wasn't there then, either. Police only brought charges against him for defacing the Soviet war memorial on Szabadsag ter. He urged people on, but played no role in the street fighting. His hiding was an act of heroism to his followers, though, as he told Nepszabadsag, his real reason was that he was scared of police vengeance.

Despite presenting himself as an uncompromising patriot, Budhazy was happy to reach an agreement with the police - although this did not tarnish his image with his supporters. We have no idea if he reached agreement with the police after his arrest, but the courts placed him under house arrest a few days after his arrest. In January, the Court of First Instance acquitted him of attempting to change the constitutional order.

Toroczkai, giving a speech to his followers © Stiller Ákos

Given this, it's surprising that Budahazy's leadership of the extreme right is unquestioned. With Laszlo Toroczkai, he last year established Hunnia, a network that aimed to "bring down the government and bring about a regime change." Magyar Narancs last year reported that this organisation was established at a "top secret" meeting at a restaurant with delegates from various trusted organisations. Then came an "inspection of the troops" on Hosok tere, at which Budahazy made an appearance wearing a mask, despite being under house arrest at the time.

Budahazy's plan was for Hunnia to function as a kind of shadow state, with its own government, media, school and armed organisation. The Hungarian Self-Defence Movement is part of Hunnia. The Movement's presence on 15 March indicates that Budahazy's group does not admit Hungarists, but that they do not want to see disappointed extremists moving to the Hungarist wing.

Many see the emergence of Hunnia as a sign of a strategic shift.

According to this theory, movements which until now have been open are now closing up. But the 15 March event, where Budahazy, knowing full well that he had no hope of success, led his supporters into a confrontation with the riot police, throws this theory into question.