Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar over comments he made during Hungary’s National Cohesion Day commemorations, saying the rhetoric does not contribute to good neighbourly relations between the two countries.
Speaking on Sunday in a political programme on Slovak news channel JOJ 24, Pellegrini addressed several domestic issues as well as current developments in Slovak–Hungarian relations.
Pellegrini warns against divisive rhetoric
The Slovak president took issue with Magyar’s recent statement that “Hungary is perhaps the only country in the world that borders itself,” a remark made during a speech marking the anniversary of the 1920 Treaty of Trianon and the National Cohesion Day.
According to the Slovak president, he does not want Slovak–Hungarian relations to become a political issue that could damage bilateral ties or further polarise Slovak society ahead of upcoming elections.
“I do not consider it rhetoric that leads to good neighbourly relations,” Pellegrini said, according to the Slovak news agency TASR. His criticism also referred to Magyar’s previous comments concerning Felvidék, the historical Hungarian name for parts of present-day Slovakia.
Hope for a constructive Fico–Magyar meeting
Pellegrini said he hopes Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Péter Magyar will be able to find a way to calm tensions during their planned meeting.
The comments are the latest reaction from Slovak officials to Magyar’s controversial statement. Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár had previously rejected the remark, arguing that it was inappropriate in the context of bilateral relations.
The statement that sparked criticism
During National Cohesion Day commemorations, Magyar reflected on Hungary’s international position and stressed the importance of maintaining strong alliances and being a predictable partner on the global stage.
He argued that Hungary needs good relations with all neighbouring countries, adding that this has not always been the case in recent years, including within the regional cooperation framework of the Visegrád Group.
It was in this context that he made the remark that Hungary is “perhaps the only country in the world that borders itself,” a reference widely interpreted as alluding to ethnic Hungarian communities living beyond Hungary’s present-day borders following the signing of the Treaty of Trianon.
If you missed it: Slovak FM slams PM Magyar’s “Hungary borders itself” remark, warns against irredentist rhetoric
