Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said on Tuesday that relations between Slovakia and Hungary could deteriorate if opposition candidate Peter Magyar wins the upcoming Hungarian parliamentary elections.
At the same time, Fico declared that he's ready to stand up for Viktor Orban if anyone were to cast doubt over his re-election.
"If a government led by this opposition leader were to actually implement in practice what they are saying in the election campaign, we'd be on thin ice regarding the Benes decrees and other matters that are vital for us. Not to mention that statements addressed to the Slovak government are not always what I'd expect," said Fico after Tuesday's cabinet session held away from the capital in the village of Hronské Kľačany (Nitra region).
Fico underlined that the Slovak government won't interfere in Hungary's election campaign. He also said that he expects that if Orban wins, there will be attempts at the international level to question his victory. However, according to Fico, it's impossible to rig elections in a democratic environment.
"With such a level of media scrutiny and representation of political parties and non-governmental organisations, it's impossible to imagine anyone manipulating elections," said the Prime Minister, adding that he would firmly stand behind Orban in such a case.
"We need to keep an eye on this, as it's unacceptable to have elections in countries with rich democratic traditions undermined just for geopolitical goals or the interests of other countries," he added.
The Prime Minister also praised the quality of coexistence between Slovaks and Hungarians in the ethnically mixed region where the cabinet session took place. He highlighted that, after years of effort, both sides have managed to remove Slovak-Hungarian relations from a political agenda that could divide society and increase tensions.
Hungary's parliamentary elections will be held on Sunday, 12 April. The pre-election poll results vary depending on the agency, with some predicting victory for Magyar's opposition party TISZA (Respect and Freedom), which would end Orban's 16-year tenure as prime minister. Other agencies, however, suggest that Orban's Fidesz (Hungarian Civic Alliance) will remain in power.
Source: TASR
