Hungary calls France a partner before Macron-Orban meeting

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BUDAPEST/PARIS (Reuters) – Hungary mentioned it agreed with France on a number of problems with strategic significance for Europe’s future because it ready for talks on Monday between Prime Minister Viktor Orban and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron, who was as a result of begin a journey to Budapest by visiting the grave of a thinker who opposed Orban, mentioned final week the Hungarian chief was a political opponent but in addition a European partner with whom it was potential to search out compromise.

In a video posted on his Facebook web page, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto additionally characterised the 2 European Union nations as each companions and opponents.

“We additionally agree on the significance of defending the exterior borders (of the EU),” Szijjarto mentioned, days after Macron mentioned defending and controlling EU borders was one in all France’s principal goals throughout its six-month EU presidency beginning in January.

Macron and Orban are at odds over points together with immigration, LGBT rights and the chief European Commission’s criticism of Hungary over democratic requirements and rule of legislation.

Macron has pointed to a “cultural battle” with Hungary and a few of its neighbours which he says is hurting EU cohesion, and French officers mentioned he would elevate respect of LGBT rights and the rule of legislation with Orban.

Areas the place the leaders have discovered widespread floor embrace pushing the EU to advertise nuclear vitality and recognise it as inexperienced funding.

Macron’s deliberate go to to the grave of Hungarian thinker Agnes Heller follows a meeting that they had before her demise in 2019. A survivor of the Holocaust, Heller was an advocate of liberal democracy who accused Orban of undermining democracy.

Macron was additionally anticipated to participate in a meeting of the Visegrad group, which incorporates leaders of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and to satisfy leaders of the opposition alliance that’s set to problem Orban in an election subsequent yr.

Orban has prior to now two months acquired far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour, who’re candidates in France’s presidential election subsequent yr during which Macron is predicted to hunt a second time period.

Both praised Orban’s opposition to immigration, and Zemmour hailed his defence of “his nation’s identification, sovereignty and borders.”

(Additional reporting by Michel Rose and Anita Komuves; Writing by Ingrid Melander, Editing by Timothy Heritage)



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