Earlier this month, DK launched a signature drive to scrap the eligibility for Hungarian pension of Ukrainian and Russian citizens who had registered in Hungarian border villages with the sole purpose of taking advantage of the related inter-state agreement, Csaba Molnár said, noting that the Socialist- Liberal governments before 2010 had made preparations to eliminate the agreement.

Fidesz, however, failed to complete the process, which led to “paying ... Hungarian pensions to several tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens”, he said, adding that in exchange, they would vote for Fidesz in the spring election.

“Ukrainian pension migration” is an aided process, Molnár said, insisting that villagers on the Ukrainian border told him that “local Fidesz politicians, mayors, MPs are often involved in organising these manoeuvres.”

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

MTI photo: Szigetváry Zsolt