The streets of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, were tense but calm as thousands of people took part in an annual right-wing event linked to World War II while antifascist demonstrators protested nearby against the global rise of the far right.
The activity on February 8 came as nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban headlined a group of far-right leaders and firebrands at a gathering in Madrid labeled "Make Europe Great Again," praising U.S. President Donald Trump and declaring their movement to now be "mainstream."
SEE ALSO: The European Leaders Courting Trump's FavorIt also came as Orban is scheduled to meet party leader Alice Weidel of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party -- which has scored gains in recent German elections -- in Budapest on February 11-12.
The street demonstrations appeared to proceed peacefully – unlike in some previous years when clashes broke out during the so-called Day of Honor events, traditionally set as February 11.
Far-right groups across Europe meet annually in the Hungarian capital to mark a failed attempt by Nazi and Hungarian troops in 1945 to break out of Buda Castle to escape a Soviet siege and reach nearby German lines.
Far-right supporters say the WWII soldiers were "protecting Western Europe against the threat of the Red Army," researcher Hunyadi Bulcsu of the Political Capital think tank told AFP.
But since the attempt was carried out "in the name of Nazi Germany," it cannot be "glorified" in any way, Bulcsu added.
AFP journalists estimated that 4,000 people participated in a "memorial hike" leading away from Buda Castle. Many of the marchers wore far-right markings and some wore Nazi uniforms.
AFP quoted Zsolt – a 33-year-old insurance broker -- as saying he wanted to honor "the heroes...the real Hungarians who defended the city" 80 years ago.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks in Madrid on February 8.
Police watched over the streets, using dogs, drones, and vehicles, as several antifascist demonstrators stood by.
"With the resurgence of fascism in Germany, not to mention Austria, and the whole world heading for a terrible fate," it was important to take to the streets, Julia Zsolnay, a retiree, told AFP
The Hungarian government had warned it would prevent a repeat of what happened in 2023, when clashes broke out between the far-right and leftist protesters.
Orban and his government have been criticized by the West for democratic backsliding and support for right-wing causes throughout Europe.
Meanwhile, Orban looked to press his far-right credentials at the rally in Madrid, sponsored by the nationalist Spanish Vox party and attended by some 2,000 supporters of the right-wing Patriots for Europe bloc in the European Parliament.
Also there were Italian Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders of the Dutch PVV party, and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis.
Many of the leaders praised the return of Trump to the U.S. presidency.
"Trump tornado has changed the world in just a few weeks...yesterday we were heretics, today we're mainstream," Orban told the gathering.
Orban's scheduled talks in Budapest on February 11-12 with AfD leader Weidel will likely be meeting of two politicians with similar outlooks.
The AfD, like Orban, seeks to rebuild Europe's relations with Moscow despite Russia's ongoing Ukraine war and has pushed strong anti-immigration policies.