Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sent a letter congratulating the newly confirmed prime minister of Romania, Ludovic Orban, the Hungarian PM’s spokesman, Bertalan Havasi, told national news agency MTI.
“I can assure you that Hungary is ready to continue a cooperation with Romania based on mutual respect and serving the interests of both countries,” Orbán wrote in the letter, adding that he was looking forward to further improving bilateral relations and together building a European Union of strong nations.
A joint session of the Romanian Parliament’s two chambers approved on Monday the government of liberal (PNL) politician Ludovic Orban with 240 votes for and none against, seven more than the 233 votes required for a majority. The previous Social-Democrat government of Viorica Dăncilă was ousted on October 10 by a vote of no confidence.
Ludovic Orban, an engineer by training, is the current president of the PNL. His highest previous office was a brief stint as Minister of Transport in 2007-2008. The two prime ministers of these neighboring Central European countries were born only five days apart in May 1963. The Romanian Orban’s father is an ethnic Hungarian from there.
Title image: Newly confirmed Romanian prime minister Ludovic Orban (EPA-EFE/Robert Ghement)
