The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania’s (RMDSZ) new role in the Romanian government could be instrumental in improving strained bilateral relations between Hungary and Romania, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and RMDSZ President Hunor Kelemen said after a Budapest meeting on Dec. 19, Transylvanian news portal Krónika reports .
Orbán said that the regular Advent meeting between the head of government and Hungarian leaders across the border could not be held this year due to the epidemic, so this was partly replaced by Saturday’s one. At the meeting, Orbán and Kelemen agreed that, following the Hungarian electoral coalition, the government role of the RMDSZ made it possible for the Hungarian organization to play a serious role in domestic politics now due to its role inthe Romanian government.
Orbán and Kelemn also said that with RMDSZ being part of the Romanian government will be a strong link between Hungary and Romania and can significantly improve bilateral relations.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó — who also met Kelemen on Saturday — wrote on his Facebook page that Hungary has a vested interest in improving relations with Romania, “and now we will have a better chance than ever before. The role of the RMDSZ in government will, I hope, be a strong link between us, and we will be able to significantly improve our bilateral relations. This is in the interest of all of us: Romanians and Hungarians on both sides of the border,” Szijjártó wrote. RMDSZ — which won just over six percent of the votes at the Dec. 10 general elections — will have three ministries in the three-party government jointly formed with the National Liberal Party, and the reformist USR PLUS. These ministries are in development, environment, and youth and sports. The three parties are expected to sign the coalition agreement this evening in Bucharest.
Title image: RMDSZ President Hunor Kelemen (L) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (R). (source: Facebook)
