Ács mayor quits Fidesz over PMʼs remarks on Roma

History

Béla Lakatos, the mayor of Ács and the only Roma mayor in Hungary, quit ruling party Fidesz yesterday, following Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s public comments on Roma on Monday, online daily index.hu reported this morning. 

Orbán making his speech to diplomats on Monday. (Photo: MTI/György Varga)

In his speech before a group of diplomats, Orbán compared the plight of refugees to that of the Roma in Hungary. He said that Hungary hosted Roma for centuries, and added: “Hungary is not asking that we distribute Roma throughout Europe.”

Orbán also said in that speech that Hungarians are glad to have the kebab shops that Muslims bring to Budapest, but he added that he does not want to house too many refugees from Muslim countries because he believes Hungary should maintain its mostly Christian population.

Lakatos is the only Roma mayor in the country. He said he is appalled at the government’s handling of the refugee situation which he says are “incompatible with my values”.

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