Hungary will return to the European table as a sincere, free and sovereign state and will be a constructive partner, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said in Berlin on Tuesday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Magyar that Hungary could count on Germany’s help.
Péter Magyar: Germany Hungary’s natural ally
At a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the PM Péter Magyar said: “We will be there when tasks need to be solved,” whether it is the new [EU budget Multiannual Financial Framework] MFF negotiations, the fight against illegal migration, competitiveness or foreign policy issues.
“We won this election, and not by a little, but by a lot,” he said, adding that since 1990, there had never been such a high turnout in a Hungarian election, and no government had ever received such a large mandate as the government has now.
He added that this involved huge responsibility and massive expectations. “The expectations are not only huge in Hungary but across Europe,” he said. Magyar reflected on Hungary’s role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the opening of borders in 1989, which helped pave the way for German reunification.
He called Germany Hungary’s “natural ally” and welcomed the fact that the 70th anniversary of Hungary’s 1956 revolution would now be celebrated “in a free and truly sovereign European country”. He invited Merz to attend the commemorations on 23 October. While not promising unconditional agreement with Germany, Magyar emphasised that European cooperation was built on compromise.
Proud to work with German companies
He vowed that if a compromise or decision was made in the EU, Hungary would do its best to implement and respect it. “It is certain that there will be long debates, but that’s normal: what matters is that we negotiate honestly and reliably, whether bilaterally or at the European level,” he added.
Magyar highlighted Germany’s role as Hungary’s top foreign investor, with the annual bilateral trade turnover amounting to 67 billion euros, and German companies providing jobs for tens of thousands of Hungarians.
“We are proud of the work German companies do here, and we welcome more investment,” he said. “We are also proud that many Hungarians and Hungarian firms contribute to Germany’s development with their work and expertise.”
He pledged to meet with representatives of major German investors, alongside Hungarian and other foreign investors, to discuss what works in the current environment and how to attract even more investment.
“We will do everything to strengthen political, cultural and economic cooperation between the two countries,” Magyar said.
Diversification is the key
On energy, Magyar said they had also discussed diversifying energy sources to ensure both security of supply and affordable prices. “The new Hungarian government will pursue every possible avenue to secure energy from as many directions and locations as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Magyar confirmed that technical-level talks are under way between Hungary and Ukraine on language, cultural and educational rights for the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.
He described the talks as “very promising”, expressing hope that they could be concluded at a technical level this week.
Magyar-Zelensky summit next week
He said he was prepared to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky early next week, provided an agreement could be reached on fundamental rights for Hungary’s minority in Ukraine.
“For a minority, using your mother tongue in kindergarten, school or administration, or exercising cultural rights, it’s nothing extra,” Magyar said. “It is a fundamental human right, and we believe that any country seeking to begin EU accession talks must uphold these rights.”
He said he was optimistic that the long-standing dispute between the two countries could be resolved, adding: “We are ready to open a new chapter in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations.”
Visegrád 4 expansion
Péter Magyar also said that at the V4 prime ministerial summit on June 23 he will propose to the Polish, Czech and Slovak prime ministers expanding Visegrad Cooperation.
Magyar said he will propose inviting Austria, Germany or even Croatia, Slovenia and Romania. “Let us build a strong central Europe together,” he declared, adding that cooperation would embrace joint work on infrastructure, the economy and culture.
Magyar said he and Merz had agreed that even more German companies and investors would be welcome in Hungary, but such expansion had so far been hindered by the “huge corruption” pervading Hungary’s economy and political life.
Magyar told the chancellor that a top priority for the Tisza government is fighting corruption and restoring the independence of the judiciary and investigative authorities. He noted that the political agreement with the European Commission on the 16.4 billion euros due to Hungary was largely thanks to moves to strengthen the Integrity Authority.
Ukraine war: troop deployment, weapons deliveries, EU accession
Answering a question about Ukraine’s EU accession, he underscored that Hungary’s fundamental expectation is that the cultural, language and other rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine must be settled. This is a precondition, he said. “I don’t think we need dwell on this, as an agreement is likely and hopefully close at hand.” He confirmed Hungary will not send troops or weapons to Ukraine under the new government.
Answering a question about the Hungarian president, Magyar criticised Tamás Sulyok, insisting that he had failed to uphold his duties and had turned a blind eye to abuses under the previous government, referring to the abuse of thousands of children in orphanages, the use of secret services against opponents, and Russian interference in elections.
He said Sulyok had also remained silent as Magyar, as opposition leader, was barred from public television for two years while “lies” were spread about him, his party and his family. The president also stayed silent when Orban called millions of Hungarians “stink bugs” and made Hungary the EU’s “poorest and most corrupt country”, Magyar added. “A man like this would do better to keep quiet and not go complaining abroad,” he said. Magyar also said Hungary supports Germany’s bid to become a temporary member of the UN Security Council.
Finally, PM Péter Magyar said that the Tisza movement’s success, built without state support and in the face of strong opposition, showed that “politics must be about people”. This is why Hungarians had entrusted them with such a huge responsibility, he said.
Merz: Hungary can count on Germany’s help
A stronger European role for Hungary would benefit the entire continent as well as NATO, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasised in Berlin on Tuesday at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Péter Magyar. The chancellor said Hungary could count on Germany’s help in its economic development, MTI wrote.
Merz said Magyar had received a clear mandate, and that democracy and the rule of law were once again strong in Hungary. He expressed confidence that Magyar would be able to “bring Hungary back into the European fold”.
The German chancellor again congratulated Péter Magyar on his election victory, which he called a “deep historical turning point” in post-Cold War Hungarian history. Merz said Magyar had received a clear mandate, and that “democracy and the rule of law are once again strong in Hungary”. He expressed confidence that Magyar would be able to “bring Hungary back into the European fold”.
Economic renewal
The chancellor also emphasised that Germany would support Hungary’s economic renewal. “Here in Berlin, the doors are open to you. We want to help make this new beginning in Hungary a success. You can count on us, and personally on me,” he said.
Merz said Magyar’s election victory was “an inspiration for all of Europe” because it proved that “the pendulum can swing not only in the illiberal or even authoritarian direction but can also swing back, and indeed visibly towards the political centre.”
Have you read this one? Péter Magyar showcases a luxury toilet at the National Bank
The German chancellor said Hungary has once again sent an encouraging message to Europe, similar to 1989. He said Budapest should again play an active role in strengthening European integration, economic growth, employment, competitiveness and defence.
Merz emphasised that Europe’s freedom and unity currently faced serious challenges, mainly due to Russia and the war in Ukraine. “If Hungary once again stands clearly on the side of this Europe, it strengthens all of us; it serves the cause of freedom and peace,” he said.
Transcarpathian Hungarians
Regarding Ukraine’s EU accession, the German chancellor said Berlin understood that Budapest first wanted to resolve bilateral issues related to the situation of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, but this must not come at the expense of European support for Ukraine or obstruct the opening of the first accession chapter.
Merz emphasised that Germany and Hungary wanted to cooperate more closely in the future on strengthening EU competitiveness and its defence capabilities, as well as shaping the EU’s next multiannual financial framework.
The German chancellor finally said the Berlin meeting could mark a new beginning in relations between the two countries. “Welcome to Berlin, and welcome to the restart of our relations, which had been very good for decades. We would like to take this up again now,” Merz said.
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Found any polyps up there, Peti?
Same bullshit same Steiner.
Mikey up to his usual tricks. He’ll eventually get used to the new reality, namely that Peti is going to grind his favourite party into humous and eat them for a light dinner with some chilled rose. He’s made a fine start and is consistently wiping the floor with them in parliament, in fact, parliament is now the source of an entertaining comedy show watching ‘The Terminator’ in action. I feel sorry for Fidesz MPs that were forced into this by Gyurcsany Viktor; I wouldn’t at all be surprised if some hand back their mandate prematurely. It’s not for nothing the likes of Lazar (who never appears to attend parliament anyway) and Gulyas only agreed to a year of service on a ‘suck it and see’ basis. Takacs surfing on his phone, Pocs grinning at Peti like a nutcase as if he’s high on magic mushrooms, Vitalyos desperately trying to supress her grin like Cruella de Ville, it’s all quite the spectacle.