Germany is concerned about Fidesz leader Viktor Orban’s recent statement that the EP elections would determine how many deputies can represent the Hungarians of the Carpathian Basin in Brussels, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Budapest after talks with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Balazs.
Steinmeier, who arrived in Budapest from Prague, said he had also discussed the issue with the Czech and Slovak FMs in the Czech capital.
Declining to comment on Orban’s remark, Balazs said, “A Hungarian opposition politician said something at his own risk. I would not like to react to it on behalf of the government.”
The minister said he respected the Slovak parliament and would wait for what will happen at its special session on Wednesday. “I will perhaps react to it,” he said.
The two foreign ministers also discussed regional and EU affairs and exchanged views about the Andrassy Gyula German-language University of Budapest.
Steinmeier and Balazs unveiled a memorial plaque dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the opening of Hungary’s western border for East German refugees.
Steinmeier said that Germany repeatedly expressed thanks to the Hungarian nation for its role in German reunification.
Somehow Hungarian press forgot to add that Steinmeier is a member of SPD (probably their next candidate for Chancellor), therefore a distinguished person in the Party of European Socialists. The opinions and directions he respresents on foreing policy are often different to Angela Merkel’s. He is also reputed to be strongly pro-Russian, … following Schröder?
Is it surprising that him and Jan Kohout, Czech FM, former member of the communist party before 1989, are supporting their Slovakian and Hungarian colleagues in the European Elections against Fidesz, in anticipation of the biggest win for the European People’s Party.
This is just as obvious as Wilfried Martens’ (president of EPP) support to Orbán.
Come on there are European Elections outside Hungary, too.