Scramble to cover South Stream loss

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has urged that Hungary should find new energy supplies after Russia abandoned the South Stream gas pipeline project this week. “Russia had the right to make that decision and Hungary has acknowledged the move,” Szijjártó said. He mentioned gas imported from Azerbaijan but added that further opportunities should also be identified. Opposition parties LMP, Together and the Socialists lambasted the government for supporting South Stream. Russia’s dropping the project has proven that the Hungarian government had “backed the wrong horse” in its foreign policy, Bernadett Szel, co-leader of green LMP, said. The opposition Together party also urged the government to admit “the failure of its ‘Eastern Opening’ policy” and called for a redrafting of its energy policies. The Liberal Party said that since Russian President Vladimir Putin “arbitrarily abrogates contracts and agreements”, it was worth considering the agreement Hungary signed with Russia to upgrade the Paks nuclear plant.