Veronika Vrecionova: Budapest threatens Czech national interests

Should the Czech government seek greater cooperation within the Visegrad Four? According to MEP Veronika Vrecionová (ODS), the Czech Republic should condemn the Hungarian Foreign Minister's close relations with his Russian counterpart. „Hungary is playing a game on the security issue that is not in the interest of the Czech Republic,“ she said.

However, the investigative consortium of Eastern European media is behind the publication of the recording that we are talking about here, not some EU structures, but I am not saying that you meant that, Mr Dostal. I would like to ask you, Mrs Vrecionová, how should the Czech Republic approach the case of the Hungarian Foreign Minister in your opinion?

I, of course, consider this to be a very serious matter and I think that the Czech Republic, at the very least, should condemn it very strongly. However, I would like to draw attention to the fact that Orbán and his government have been playing a very dangerous game for some time now, which also threatens our national interests, when they are digging in for Russia. They are very often seconded by the Slovak Prime Minister, Mr Fico. I would also like to say that for a long time now, for example, what has been happening at the European Council of Prime Ministers is that, when Hungary and Slovakia are sitting at the table, they all weigh their words very heavily, because they actually suspect something of the kind. The actions of both Hungary and Slovakia clearly indicate that they have positive relations with Russia, and they are all very careful in these negotiations and, if necessary, they discuss these sensitive issues when these two gentlemen are not there.

Mrs. Vrecion, do you understand this rationale? That it is in Hungary's interest to continue using Russian oil?

I would like to say that it is the Fialova government, quite clearly, and other European countries, since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, that have invested heavily in ensuring their energy security independent of Russia. Because that dependence on Russia has worked out for all of us. It may be cheaper in the first place, but it costs us a lot more afterwards. Hungary has taken a different path, where they are now unable to ensure their energy security other than simply being very dependent on Russia. That is true.

Mrs Vrecionová, this brings us back to the suspicions expressed these days by Hungarian Minister Szijjártó in response to the leaked recording. The suspicion that the release of the recording could be seen as interference in the Hungarian election campaign. What do you think?

Well, I said at the beginning that all the steps that Hungary has been taking since the beginning of the war, the way it has been playing into the hands of Putin and the Kremlin, the way the European Councils have been going, when they have been blocking aid to Ukraine, blocking sanctions for a long time, nothing has changed here. Because everybody knows about it and it is not related to the current Hungarian elections. But I would like to say here that Mr Dostál is measuring with a double standard. He said in the last question that this is an election fight in Hungary. I would like to say here that the anti-Ukrainian card is being used very much by Mr Orbán, and he is playing it now, because there is this very heated election campaign in Hungary. So I am convinced that this is really purely a political game on his part at home. What has now been published only confirms this. Was it timed before the Hungarian elections or not? It is quite possible, but we can see that the situation in Hungary is very heated right now, and it was simply Orbán who played the anti-Ukrainian card first.

Madam MEP, should we wait to make critical statements about the Hungarian government now that Hungarians have less than two weeks before the parliamentary elections, after which, incidentally, there may be a change of government and therefore a change in the country's foreign policy direction?

I agree that we must now let the Hungarians decide in the elections. It is really their business and we must respect the results of their elections. However, we can probably agree that the most important issue today, even for us, for the Czech Republic, is the issue of security. And here, Hungary has been playing a different game for a long time, one that is not in the Czech Republic's interest. I agree with my colleague that Hungary is our close neighbour and we are not going to relocate it in any way. It is logical, and there are a number of things in which we can normally cooperate with Hungary. That is fine. However, I think that simply the steps that they are taking, which are not in our national interest, their very open cooperation with Russia, I think that this is simply a thing that the Czech Republic should stand up and say that we do not agree with.

Veronika Vrecionová - Member of the European Parliament for the ODS

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