Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban is vowing to protect all Hungarians against racial prejudice after an apparent anti-Semitic remark by a far-right lawmaker.

Parliamentarian Marton Gyongyosi of the opposition Jobbik party infuriated Hungarians last week when he suggested the government draw up a list of people of Jewish ancestry who he says pose a security risk to Hungary. Mr. Orban said Monday that such comments are unworthy of Hungary.

Gyongyosi later apologized and said he was misunderstood. But his apology did not stop thousands of protesters from marching through freezing Budapest on Sunday. Some of the demonstrators held signs with pictures of Gyongyosi wearing a Hitler moustache.

Hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews were murdered during the Nazi Holocaust in World War II.