Secret services say no incriminating Russia info on PM Orbán
Budapest, May 10 (MTI) – Hungary’s secret services did not present any incriminating information in connection with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, parliament’s national security committee established at a meeting on Wednesday.
The committee meeting was proposed by the opposition Socialists last week after Ferenc Gyurcsány, head of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK), claimed that Orbán was being blackmailed by Russia with compromising information.
The heads of secret services told the committee that “no security risk affecting Hungary’s national sovereignty” had been raised in connection with a prime minister during his times in office since 1990.
Neither Gyurcsány nor Orbán attended the meeting.
Gyurcsány said in a statement that he would attend the committee’s hearing on the condition that Orbán also attends. He said that if Orbán did not appear before the committee, he would officially brief the head of the committee in person on every piece of information in his possession in connection with the prime minister.
The ruling Fidesz party responded to its invitation to the hearing by saying that the Socialist Party and Gyurcsány should “settle their internal conflicts amongst themselves”.
Zsolt Molnar, the Socialist head of the committee, called it “regrettable” that neither the prime minister nor Orbán had shown up to the meeting, as the committee had been looking forward to discussing the allegations that had emerged in recent weeks.
Ádám Mirkóczki of Jobbik confirmed that no incriminating evidence had been presented in connection with the prime minister, adding that Gyurcáany “was either lying or being deceptive” when he made the accusations. He questioned why Gyurcsány would hold on to compromising information instead of releasing it.
Bernadett Szál of green opposition LMP called on Gyurcsány to present to the committee any evidence he may have in connection with the prime minister being blackmailed.
Szilárd Németh of Fidesz said the matter brought up by Gyurcsány was a “medical case” rather than an issue concerning the national security committee.
DK spokesman Zsolt Gréczy told a press conference after the session got under way that if Orbán had attended the meeting then he would have been confronted with the information Gyurcsány had talked about in Gyurcsany’s presence. Given that Orbán “wouldn’t take up the confrontation”, Gyurcsány would have to brief the head of the committee, Gréczy added.
Molnar said that although he and Gyurcsány had yet to discuss any details as regards a meeting, it was certain that any meeting with the former prime minister would not be held in private, adding that it would have to take place in an official setting where secrecy and the classified handling of documents are guaranteed. Minutes would also have to be made on the content of the meeting, he said.
The committee also discussed a bill on expanding Hungary’s role in the international fight against the Islamic State terrorist group.
Photo: MTI
Source: MTI
please make a donation here
Hot news
Hungary’s bottle redemption system: Major change ahead, many consumers furious
Uzbekistan holds historic parliamentary elections – preliminary results
Hungarian government: Romania’s Schengen accession in line with Hungary’s interest
Sovereignty Protection Office: Átlátszó ‘causing serious political, economic and social damage’ in Hungary
Important announcement: Air France and KLM to operate more flights to Budapest Airport in the winter season
Hungary’s foreign minister addresses Slovakia’s language law: protecting ethnic minorities amid rising tensions