Romania’s scandal-hit left-wing Prime Minister Victor Ponta has hit out against his Hungarian colleague Viktor Orbán in a television programme yesterday, commenting on Mr. Orbán’s speech at the 25th Bálványos Summer University and Student Camp, branding him an “offensive and provocative figure”.
Romanian PM Victor Ponta
Responding to a question on Romanian-Hungarian relations at a forum on Saturday, Mr. Orbán said that he is unable to say anything “beatific”, pointing out that a fruitful, practical cooperation based on mutual trust existed between the two countries’ governments until 2012. He claimed that he does not remember “leading Romanian politicians kicking into Hungary so many times as since then” but said that a new beginning is possible and Hungarians are “ready to pick up the thread”.
In response, the Romanian Prime Minister branded Mr. Orbán “offensive and provocative” but added that he will not go along with provocation and does not want to “pour oil on the fire”. He said that the Romanian electorate is the key in not allowing a pro-Orbán government to be elected in the country. However, Mr. Ponta admitted to attending events held by Hungary’s left-wing Socialist Party but claimed that he “showed respect” to Hungarians.
His comment comes after Romania voiced criticism on Monday against a picture uploaded to Mr. Orbán’s Facebook page, which features badges of the Szekler flag and the pre-Trianon Greater Hungary, which included large areas now belonging to Romania. While the Hungarian foreign ministry said that the symbols in question are historic and not revisionist, the Romanian PM said in the programme that he agrees with his country criticising the picture.
via hvg.hu
photos: Viktor Orbán/Facebook and kolozsvaros.ro