Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has encouraged dual Romanian-Hungarian citizens to cast their ballot in Hungary’s parliamentary election set for April 3 and pledged the government’s continued support to Romania Hungarians if the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance wins.
Speaking in front of a Reformed church built with the Hungarian government’s assistance in Sepsiszentgyörgy (Sfantu Gheorghe), the minister noted his government’s efforts to “strengthen and support” ethnic Hungarian communities ever since 2010, and insisted that the upcoming vote would “fundamentally determine the future of both Hungary and ethnic communities across the border”. Encouraging ethnic kin to vote, he said “every vote counts, not a single vote should be lost”.
With Fidesz staying at the helm, the government will carry on with its economic promotion program for Hungarians in Romania, continue to provide assistance to local kindergarten and school construction, aid to religious communities and go on financing cultural and sports programs, Szijjártó said.
Concerning the ethnic Hungarian RMDSZ party, Szijjártó said it was “a crucial stabilizer in Romania’s domestic politics” and that it is being a part of the Romanian government “clearly has a positive impact on bilateral cooperation”.
Answering a question, Szijjártó said bilateral ties with Romania were “at their best in ten years” but added that the government was working to further improve those relations. The government is planning to further develop cross-border infrastructure, he said, adding that he hoped the two countries could strike deals concerning energy supplies, too.
“We live in each other’s neighborhood and we are interested in each other’s success; it is high time each player on either side recognized that,” he said.
Featured photo illustration via Péter Szijjártó’s Facebook page