Péter Szijjártó speaks to Euronews about the European Parliament backing plans to freeze funds to countries violating rule of law. He says such moves are 'basically a matter of revenge against Hungary' for voting the ruling Fidesz party into power.
ADVERTISEMENTThe European Parliament has backed plans to freeze EU funds to countries violating rule of law - a move which targets Poland and Hungary. Earlier this week I sat down with the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó to discuss this. Sandor Zsiros Euronews Brussels' correspondent asked him how he sees the fortune of Hungary's richest man, Lőrinc Mészáros, a good friend of Viktor Orbán. As this revenues come mostly from European funds .
Péter Szijjártó, Foreign Minister of Hungary:
"These kind of blackmailings that these European funds will be taken away and all this kind of stuff are basically matter of revenge against Hungary, against the Hungarian people. We understand very well that bureaucrats in Brussels and mainstream media and mainstream politicians do not like the fact the Hungarian people voted three times Fidesz into government. And they are frustrated about that."
"We are absolutely not worried . There are treaties and rules in the EU which make it very clear how the methodology of distributing the EU funds look like. And if somebody would like to change this methodology, must change regulations and treaties. Now changing the treaties is a very complicated procedure, which requires the unanimous decision of all member states: So Its obvious that such a change will not happen.
"I don't really care about the revenues of Mr Mészáros, to be honest, I don't know from where, whether from the European Union or from other sources he gets his revenues or his companies get their revenues. I don't care about such kind of business issues. On the other hand you know I don't really understand why somebody should be excluded from public procurement procedures if they know politicians from Fidesz, or if they know politicians from the socialist or if they know politicians from other parties. "also asked him how he sees the fortune of Hungary's richest man, Lőrinc Mészáros, a good friend of Viktor Orbán. As this revenues come mostly from European funds . Here is the answer of the Foreign Minister."