Péter Szijjártó, who is stepping down as Hungary’s Foreign Minister, will remain active in the new session of the Hungarian Parliament following the elections held on April 12.
The ruling party, Fidesz, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, secured 52 seats in the 199-member National Assembly, in coalition with the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP). Szijjártó will occupy one of the 44 seats allocated to Fidesz in the National Assembly.
During his tenure, Szijjártó was noted for his anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian rhetoric. Controversial recordings surfaced during Orbán’s election campaign, allegedly featuring Szijjártó sharing details of European Union foreign ministers’ meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The transcripts indicated that Szijjártó offered assistance in easing EU sanctions.
Peter Madyar, the incoming Prime Minister, claimed that after the parliamentary elections, Szijjártó was involved in the destruction of important documents related to sanctions.
In a recent interview, Szijjártó asserted that he has “never served Russian interests.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is resigning, announced he will not take a parliamentary seat in the new assembly but is willing to continue leading Fidesz if supported by the party congress.
Péter Szijjártó will continue to serve in the Hungarian Parliament despite stepping down as Foreign Minister. His tenure was marked by controversy, including allegations of sharing sensitive information with Russia.
Source: Telex