Orbán: Ethnic Hungarians best represented by ‘purely’ ethnic Hungarian parties

The role of ethnic Hungarian parties, the economic development of Hungarian communities in the Carpathian Basin and preserving the identity of Hungarian communities were the focus of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s speech at the Hungarian Permanent Conference (MAERT) in Budapest on Friday, the PM’S press chief said.

In his keynote address, Orbán said that the last years’ “debates and experiments” had proven that only “purely” ethnic Hungarian parties could represent the interests of Hungarian communities in neighbouring countries, Bertalan Havasi told MTI.

Orbán pledged further government support to MAERT participants, noting that economic development plays an increasing role next to political cooperation in ethnic Hungarian communities.

Those programmes benefit Hungary and neighbouring countries alike, including that country’s ethnic Hungarian communities and general population, Havasi cited Orbán as saying.

Orbán added that Hungary’s neighbours should see the country’s growing “national and economic prowess” not as a danger but an opportunity which also bolsters the region’s importance in the European Union.

Source: MTI