President Milanović: Elections showed that Hungary is a functional democracy; Orbán’s opponent achieved a landslide victory

“These elections showed that Hungary is, and this is all that concerns me, a functional electoral democracy. The man lost the elections decisively; his opponent achieved a landslide victory — which means the system is functioning at that level. These other issues are Hungary’s internal matters, and just as I do not like anyone from the outside interfering in Croatia, I do not do that to others,” said the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović, commenting on the parliamentary elections in Hungary. He added that he had not spoken with the outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who lost the elections.

The President also commented on the cancellation of the Brdo-Brijuni Process meeting in Croatia.

“It is a useful forum for dialogue. No issues can actually be resolved there — we are aware of that and are not overly ambitious — but unfortunately the President of Serbia is exaggerating and putting me, as the host, in an impossible position. I do not want to have to explain that Croatia will not attack Serbia with tanks, while he keeps repeating that claim very convincingly,” said President Milanović.

“In politics, as in any human relationship, every word you express should carry meaning. This is no way to have a conversation. Unfortunately, there will be nothing of Brijuni,” added President Milanović, explaining that he would discuss the matter today with the President of Slovenia, who is a co-organizer of the meeting. “We have not agreed on anything yet; we have some plans,” he said.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, who met with President Milanović in Rijeka, emphasized that the Brdo-Brijuni Process meeting “is moving forward.” “I cannot confirm where we will meet this year or next, but together we will make an effort to find a new host,” said the Slovenian President, who co-chairs the Brdo-Brijuni Process together with the Croatian President.