Former Hungarian foreign minister Szijjarto leaves parliament

Former Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto is leaving his post as a member of the national parliament.

He announced that he had received an offer to begin work in a high position at the Chinese automaker BYD.

"I have submitted an application to resign as a member of parliament. The reason for this was receiving a very prestigious offer to take an international position at one of the key companies in the world economy. BYD is one of the brightest examples of success in the automotive industry over the past 20 years and the world's leading manufacturer of vehicles using new energy sources," Szijjarto wrote on Facebook.

He clarified that he will take the position at BYD of "executive responsible for the group's external relations and the development of new business areas." BYD has built its first plant in Europe for the production of electric vehicles in the Hungarian city of Szeged. Szijjarto provided active political support for this project.

Szijjarto served as Hungary's minister of foreign affairs and foreign economic relations since September 2014. Under his leadership, the ministry implemented an "economic neutrality strategy," which involved developing economic relations both with allies in the West and with partners in the East. After the defeat of the Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Union party in the parliamentary elections on April 12, Szijjarto was a member of parliament.

Source: TASS