Hungary’s leftist parties comment on US election – UPDATE

Budapest, November 9 (MTI) – Hungary’s opposition parties congratulated Donald Trump on winning the United States presidential election on Wednesday.

The opposition Socialists said that the decision of the American people must be respected. Socialist chair Gyula Molnár said he trusted that Trump, “leaving the mud-slinging campaign behind” would be an ally to “a Europe committed to equality, progress, and justice”. Molnár added that Trump’s selection of his secretary of state would be “an important message for Europe”.

The Dialogue Party described Trump’s victory as America’s version of Brexit, arguing that even Trump’s supporters would come out badly from his presidency. Bence Tordai, the party’s spokesman, said both Brexit and Trump’s election were the result of anger and a dissatisfaction with the elite. Trump represents “the upper one percent”, he said, adding that his presidency would be bad for women, ethnic minorities, the poor, the middle class and anyone “who favours facts and reality”.

The Liberal Party congratulated Trump but voiced disappointment over the election. István Szent-Iványi said that Trump’s victory was “not in line” with Hungary’s interests. He said Trump’s statements suggested an “inward-turning” US, turning away from Europe, while US support would be indispensable in meeting global challenges. Among those challenges he mentioned terrorism and “Russia’s aggression”. Trump’s programme forecasts a weakening US commitment to NATO, and possible trade restrictions will impact Hungary’s US exports, Szent-Iványi warned. Thinning support for democracy and human rights is also to be feared, he added.

The green LMP party said that it expected the government to establish effective cooperation with US presidents of all political stripes. Bernadett Szél, the party’s co-leader, said in a statement that it was important the Hungarian cabinet should form cooperation with a view to enforcing the country’s interests independently of which party nominated the president.

“LMP respects the decision of the American people and congratulates Donald Trump on his success in the election,” the party’s statement said.

UPDATE

Ferenc Gyurcsány, head of the Democratic Coalition, congratulated Trump in a Facebook post and reassured those unhappy with the outcome that there was “no need to panic” over Trump’s election. “Today the United States is the home of freedom and democracy and it is in the interest of the whole world that it remains just that,” Gyurcsány said, adding that Hungary would continue to view the US as one of its most important allies. He expressed doubt that a Trump presidency would weaken Hungary’s opposition and strengthen the government at home, arguing that President Barack Obama’s criticisms of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had not done the opposite, either. Gyurcsány said the fact that a candidate could overcome the financial and media advantages of his opponent and that pollsters were “not infallible” were “important lessons” to take away from the presidential election.

Source: MTI