The committee meeting was proposed by the opposition Socialists last week after Ferenc Gyurcsány, head of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK), claimed that Orbán was being blackmailed by Russia with compromising information.

The heads of secret services told the committee that “no security risk affecting Hungary’s national sovereignty” had been raised in connection with a prime minister during his times in office since 1990. Neither Gyurcsány nor Orbán attended the meeting.

Gyurcsány said in a statement that he would attend the committee’s hearing on the condition that Orbán also attends. He said that if Orbán did not appear before the committee, he would officially brief the head of the committee in person on every piece of information in his possession in connection with the prime minister.

The ruling Fidesz party responded to its invitation to the hearing by saying that the Socialist Party and Gyurcsány should “settle their internal conflicts amongst themselves”. Zsolt Molnár, the Socialist head of the committee, called it “regrettable” that neither the prime minister nor Orbán had shown up to the meeting, as the committee had been looking forward to discussing the allegations that had emerged in recent weeks.

Ádám Mirkóczki of radical nationalist Jobbik confirmed that no incriminating evidence had been presented in connection with the prime minister, adding that Gyurcsány “was either lying or being deceptive” when he made the accusations. He questioned why Gyurcsány would hold on to compromising information instead of releasing it.

Szilárd Németh of Fidesz said the matter brought up by Gyurcsány was a “medical case” rather than an issue concerning the national security committee.

DK spokesman Zsolt Gréczy told a press conference after the session got under way that if Orbán had attended the meeting then he would have been confronted with the information Gyurcsány had talked about in Gyurcsány’s presence.

Given that Orbán “wouldn’t take up the confrontation”, Gyurcsány would have to brief the head of the committee, Gréczy added.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo