Hungarian PM Szijjártó wants more “pro-peace forces” in European Parliament – ​​Euractiv

The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) and Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz party jointly want to increase representation of “pro-peace forces” in the European Parliament, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said on Monday.

Szijjarto reportedly held a joint press conference with UDMR leader Hunor Kelemen in Targu Mures in north-central Romania on Monday evening. Agpres.

Hungary’s foreign minister said the voice for peace in Brussels and Strasbourg would become stronger with the participation of more MPs from the Democratic Republican Alliance and Fidesz.

Since a large number of Hungarians live in this area of ​​Romania, Szijjártó encouraged them to actively participate in local elections and support UDMR’s lists and candidates.

He also stressed the importance of close cooperation between the Hungarian government and the Hungarian community in Romania to promote “the creation of success stories”.

Prior to the press conference, at an event in Targu Mures, Szijjarto criticized Lithuania’s foreign minister Gabriel LandsbergisCalling him a pro-war politician, in stark contrast to Hungarians who were “firmly on the side of peace.”

Szijjártó added that Hungary does not support any action that could increase the risk of escalating war and its goal is to “achieve peace as soon as possible.”

Szijjártó called on Lithuanians to vote for peace and envisioned a European Parliament dominated by politicians who advocate for peace.

Against this background, he and the leader of the Movement for Democracy in the EU, Kelemen Hunor, jointly declared their opposition to the possible re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission.

Szijjártó criticized von der Leyen’s performance, saying the European Commission’s decisions over the past five years had a negative impact on European citizens.

“Over the past five years, Europe has … experienced one crisis after another. Europe’s crises have only been exacerbated by the European Commission, not resolved. The European Commission bears an unshirkable responsibility for the deterioration of the lives of European citizens,” the foreign minister and Fidesz member also said.

Kellermann added that when von der Leyen was nominated as a candidate for the presidency of the European Commission, the UDMR did not support him within the European People’s Party because he failed to deliver on his promises regarding the Minority Security Plan, a European citizens’ initiative aimed at safeguarding the rights of minorities in the EU.

(Katerina Mihaly | Euractiv.ro)

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