Eight Hungarian State Secretaries to Advocate for Interests in Serbian Government
Eight state secretaries from the largest Hungarian party in Vojvodina, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (VMSZ), have been appointed to the new Serbian government. The announcement was made by Bálint Pásztor, president of the VMSZ, following the early parliamentary elections held in Serbia on December 17.
The VMSZ retained its previous positions in key ministries such as education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, environment, finance, and investment. Additionally, the party replaced the ministry of justice with the ministry of economy, representing the Hungarian community in Vojvodina.
According to Bálint Pásztor, the parliamentary faction of the VMSZ and its state secretaries are focused on implementing priorities agreed with citizens in the upcoming municipal elections on June 2. Among the appointed state secretaries is Ferenc Vickó, an oncologist who has been serving as state secretary in the health ministry for the past decade.
Other key appointments include Attila Juhász in the Ministry of Agriculture, Emese Lálity Urbán Urbán in the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, József Kerekes in the Ministry of Finance, and Róbert Jaksa in the Ministry of Environment. Anikó Jerasz will take over as state secretary for education, while Igor Basnec and Andrea Horvát Király will serve in the Ministries of Public Investment and Economy, respectively.
Pásztor emphasized the importance of state secretary posts in addressing issues that are of interest to the Hungarian community in Vojvodina and ensuring that these issues remain a priority for the government. He also mentioned that a coalition agreement between the VMSZ and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is set to be signed soon.
The appointment of these state secretaries marks a significant step towards the representation and advocacy of the Hungarian minority in Serbia, showcasing the government’s commitment to addressing the needs and concerns of the community.
