Responding to the preliminary results of the Hungarian general election, President Peter Pellegrini expressed on Sunday his belief that the level of relations between Slovakia and Hungary will remain high. "At the high level seen in recent years, and will continue to be based on mutual respect, cooperation, joint membership of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance, good neighbourliness and friendship," stated Pellegrini.
House Chair Richard Raši (Hlas-SD) has congratulated Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar and his Tisza party on their victory, expressing his belief that Magyar will strengthen ties with Slovakia through his policies. He added that he believes the election winner will use their policies to strengthen good relations with Slovakia and that together they will contribute to the support and development of the Visegrad Group, as well as the European Union and the NATO.
Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Monday that he is ready for close cooperation with the new Hungarian prime minister and congratulated him on his victory in the parliamentary elections. Fico expressed his interest in friendly relations with Budapest on Facebook. Shortly before the polls closed on Sunday, he wrote on social media that he wishes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán all his political goals be fulfilled, adding that during his long political career he has never met such a fighter for the sovereignty and national interests of his own country as Orbán.
The leader of the junior coalition party SNS, Andrej Danko, also expressed respect for the election result. According to him, Hungarians have chosen change. He told STVR:
“I trust that Peter Magyar will not adopt the same approach toward the Slovaks—marked by condescension and a sense of superiority—that was prevalent following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, because that would spell the beginning of the end for our relations.”
Michal Šimečka, leader of the largest opposition party PS, stated on STVR that his victory gives hope to the whole Central European region.
“This victory gives a boost and hope not only to the Central European region and the Hungarian people themselves, but also to the entire European Union. It comes after 16 years of Viktor Orbán’s oligarchic rule, and I sincerely congratulate Péter Magyar—and indeed all Hungarians.”
On Sunday April 12, general elections were held in Hungary. Hungarian citizens with permanent residence in Hungary were also able to vote at diplomatic missions abroad. A total of 199 people voted at the Hungarian Embassy in Bratislava as well and at the consulates in Banská Bystrica and Košice. No incidents were recorded during the day.
Source: TASR, STVR
