Bajnai holds talks with Slovak-Hungarian party in Bratislava

Cross-border economic cooperation and nation policy were the topics of talks between Slovak Hungarian representatives and Gordon Bajnai, leader of the electoral alliance E14-PM, in Bratislava on Friday. Bajnai and László Solymos, the head of the parliamentary group of the opposition Most-Hid Slovak-Hungarian party, told a joint press conference that their meeting had been very important. Bajnai said that an “export of domestic political conflicts and divisions” from Hungary to Hungarians beyond the borders is a serious danger, which appeared to have escalated in the recent past. Solymos said Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party ignored the will of 150,000 ethnic Hungarian voters when it “neglects” Most-Hid. Bajnai said that Hungary’s future policy towards Hungarian communities abroad should be evaluated on the basis whether it “helps ethnic Hungarians preserve their identity and prosper in their native land”. Bajnai said that once in power, E14-PM would not abolish ethnic Hungarians’ right to obtain Hungarian citizenship in a fast-track procedure and participate in Hungary’s elections. Bajnai initiated a meeting with József Berényi, leader of the Party of the Hungarian Community (MKP), but the event has not materialised. “In the current situation, Bajnai does not fill any public office so he cannot directly influence the fate of ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia,” Berényi said.