Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who also leads Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party, chose not to meet representatives of Slovakia’s governing Most-Híd party during his official visit to Bratislava on Tuesday, December 14. Most-Híd draws much of its support from among Slovakia’s Hungarian-speaking population.
“It’s his decision, we take it as such. Apparently, it shows that no partnership on their part is possible. We’ll act accordingly,” Most-Híd chairman Béla Bugár told the TASR newswire. Bugár thinks that Orbán chose this approach in order to weaken Most-Híd because the party, which is represented in parliament and forms part of the government, wants to co-operate with Fidesz as an equal partner and not as its subordinate. He pointed out that the Hungarian government acted the same way in the past, not only with respect to Slovakia but Romania as well.
Earlier in the day, Orbán met representatives of the non-parliamentary Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) for lunch. According to SMK chairman József Berényi, the discussion revolved around the priorities of the forthcoming Hungarian chairmanship of the EU. Berényi refused to comment on the decision of the Hungarian prime minister. “I, for one, am glad that they have chosen us as their strategic partner in Slovakia,” said Berényi, adding that the (Slovak) State Language Act amendment, dual citizenship and planned amendments to the Act on the Use of Minority Languages were discussed, too.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
