Bálint Pásztor

Bálint Pásztor, also called Balint Pastor (Serbian Cyrillic: Балинт Пастор; born January 3, 1979), is a politician in Serbia from the country's Hungarian community. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Serbia since 2007 as a member of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (Vajdasági Magyar Szövetség, VMSZ). Pásztor is the son of István Pásztor, the party's leader.

Early life and private career

Pásztor was born in Subotica, Vojvodina, then part of the Socialist Republic of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Raised in his hometown, he later received both a bachelor's degree (2002) and a master's degree (2011) from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law. He has been a legal advisor to the Pannon Invest Consortium in Subotica since 2002 and was director of the company from 2004 to 2007.

Pásztor was a member of Serbia's Hungarian National Council from 2002 to 2010 and was the chair of its executive committee from 2002 to 2009.[1]

Political career

Pásztor participated in protests against Slobodan Milošević's government during the 1990s. He has been a member of the VMSZ since 2000 and a member of its presidency since 2007. The VMSZ took part in the 2000 Serbian parliamentary election as part of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition, and Pásztor worked in the DOS's central election headquarters with responsibility for printing and distributing Hungarian language campaign literature.[2][3]

Concerning his status as the son of a famous politician, Pásztor has said, "Politics has been a topic of discussion in our home, especially so during the 1990s, when I was a law student in Belgrade and member of the DOS election staff, but my father neither pushed me into politics nor tried to prevent my political engagement."[4] On another occasion, when asked if his own political success had been the result of nepotism, he responded, "To be honest, I think that my circumstances are really no help to me. I think that my father is stricter towards me than other MPs."[5]

Throughout his political career, Pásztor has advocated for the decentralization of Serbia's government and for the creation of a majority-Hungarian administrative district in northern Vojvodina, while also stressing his opposition to separatism.[6][7][8]

Member of the National Assembly

Koštunica administration (2007–08)

Pásztor received the thirty-second position on the VMSZ's electoral list in the 2007 Serbian parliamentary election.[9] The list won three seats, and he was subsequently included in its assembly delegation.[10] (From 2000 to 2011, Serbian parliamentary mandates were awarded to sponsoring parties or coalitions rather than to individual candidates, and it was common practice for mandates to be awarded out of numerical order. Pásztor's relatively low position on the list did not prevent him from receiving a mandate.)[11] After the election, Pásztor was chosen as chief whip of a parliamentary group composed of four parties representing Serbia's minority communities.[12] The VMSZ served in opposition during this time, and Pásztor was a vocal critic of Vojislav Koštunica's administration.[13]

Cvetković administration (2008–12)

Pásztor received the sixth position on the electoral list of the Hungarian Coalition, a multi-party alliance led by the VMSZ, for the 2008 parliamentary election.[14] The coalition won four mandates (all of which were filled by VMSZ members), and Pásztor was again chosen as part of his party's delegation. He subsequently became the leader of a reconstituted parliamentary group representing three different minority parties.[15][16]

After the 2008 election, the For a European Serbia alliance led by the Democratic Party formed a coalition government with the Socialist Party of Serbia. The new ministry, under the leadership of Mirko Cvetković, had only a narrow majority in parliament and was dependent on support from the VMSZ. Shortly before the assembly's vote to confirm the new administration, Pásztor threatened to withdraw his support unless the government created a separate ministry of human and minority rights.[17] The ministry was in fact created, and the VMSZ members voted for the incoming ministry.[18]

Pásztor and the VMSZ refused to support a bill to reform the seats and jurisdictional areas of Serbia's courts and public prosecution departments in late 2008, although they continued to support the administration more generally.[19][20] In 2009, Pásztor indicated that his party would support for a bill providing for the direct election of national minority councils.[21] He also called for Serbia to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in this period, arguing that it was a necessary step for the country to join the European Union.[22]

The VMSZ became increasingly alienated from the Cvetković administration throughout 2009. While the party did not move into opposition, it refused to support the government's budget for 2010, and Pásztor indicated to the newspaper Danas that it did not see its alliance with the Democratic Party as a long-term "marriage."[23][24] In the same period, the VMSZ took part in discussions with Viktor Orbán, the leader of the Fidesz party in Hungary, on its political future. Some in the Serbian media speculated that, under Orbán's guidance, the VMSZ would break its alliance with the Democratic Party and support the opposition Serbian Progressive Party, but Pásztor rejected this, saying that the VMSZ held regular meetings with both government and opposition parties in Hungary and was open to a resolution of its differences with the Democratic Party.[25] The VMSZ ultimately became somewhat reconciled with the government and supported its budget for 2011.[26]

In October 2011, Pásztor argued that Serbia's law on restitution for property seized by communist authorities after World War II should be amended to permit a greater number of claims from the country's Hungarian community. He was quoted as saying, "We do not demand restitution for fascists or war criminals. However, we do think that responsibility (for war-time activities) should be judged individually, and those found not guilty should be entitled for restitution."[27]

Since 2012

Serbia's electoral system was reformed in 2011, such that parliamentary mandates were awarded in numerical order to candidates on successful lists. Pásztor was given the first position on the VMSZ's list in the 2012 parliamentary election and was elected to a third term when it won five mandates.[28] The Progressive Party's Let's Get Serbia Moving alliance won the greatest number of seats and subsequently formed a new coalition government with the Socialist Party. The new administration asked the VMSZ to join the government, but it declined; Pásztor indicated that his party would be a constructive opposition and would offer support for laws ensuring Serbia's ascension to the European Union.[29] He again led the VMSZ's electoral lists in the 2014 and 2016 parliamentary elections and was re-elected both times, when the party respectively won six and four seats.[30] The party has given parliamentary support to the Progressive-led administration since 2014.

The VMSZ campaigned for the "No" side (i.e., the side favoured by Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán) in the 2016 Hungarian migrant quota referendum, in which many Vojvodina Hungarians were eligible to vote. In an interview with the Sputnik news agency, Pásztor argued that this position was not inconsistent with the VMSZ's historical support for minority rights.[31] When asked if the vote would have any legal effect, his response was, "This is about making our opinions clearly understood."[32]

Pásztor is currently a member of the Serbian assembly's committee on constitutional and legislative issues and its committee on the judiciary, public administration, and local self-government; a deputy member of the European integration committee; the head of Serbia's parliamentary friendship group with Spain; and a member of the parliamentary friendship group with Poland.[33]

The four current VMSZ assembly members serve in a parliamentary group with the Party for Democratic Action, which has one member. Pásztor is the group's leader.

References

  1. ↑ BALINT PASTOR, Otvoreni Parlament, accessed 15 May 2018.
  2. ↑ BALINT PASTOR, Otvoreni Parlament, accessed 15 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Serbian news agency profiles minority caucus whip," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 18 December 2008 (Source: Beta Week, Belgrade, in English 18 Dec 08).
  4. ↑ "Website sees politics becoming 'family business' in Serbia," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 27 September 2017 (Source: Vecernje novosti website in Serbian 25 Sep 17).
  5. ↑ "Serbian news agency profiles minority caucus whip," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 18 December 2008 (Source: Beta Week, Belgrade, in English 18 Dec 08).
  6. ↑ "Governing, minority parties support regionalization of Serbia," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 25 July 2007 (Source: Politika, Belgrade, in Serbian 23 Jul 07).
  7. ↑ "Ethnic Hungarian leader denies separatist ambitions in Serbia," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 9 April 2008 (Source: Vecernje novosti, Belgrade, in Serbian 5 Apr 08).
  8. ↑ "Hungarian minority proposes administrative restructuring of Serbian province," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 28 January 2013 (Source: Vecernje novosti website, Belgrade, in Serbian 25 Jan 13).
  9. ↑ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 21. јануара и 8. фебрауара 2007. године, ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (Савез војвођанских Мађара - Јожеф Каса), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 27 April 2017.
  10. ↑ 14 February 2007 legislature, National Assembly of Serbia, accessed 15 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Serbia's Law on the Election of Representatives (2000) stipulated that parliamentary mandates would be awarded to electoral lists (Article 80) that crossed the electoral threshold (Article 81), that mandates would be given to candidates appearing on the relevant lists (Article 83), and that the submitters of the lists were responsible for selecting their parliamentary delegations within ten days of the final results being published (Article 84). See Law on the Election of Representatives, Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 35/2000, made available via LegislationOnline, accessed 28 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "Serbian minority parties agree to set up floor group," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 28 February 2007 (Source: FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1536 gmt 28 Feb 07).
  13. ↑ "Serbian Assembly performance 'cannot be worse' - Vojvodina Hungarian party," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 6 August 2007 (Source: Dnevnik, Novi Sad, in Serbian 2 Aug 07).
  14. ↑ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 11. маја 2008. године, ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (МАЂАРСКА КОАЛИЦИЈА - ИШТВАН ПАСТОР), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 27 April 2017.
  15. ↑ "Serbian Hungarians, Bosniaks, Albanians set up joint parliament floor group," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 11 June 2008 (Source: Radio Belgrade in Serbian 1300 gmt 11 Jun 08).
  16. ↑ "Serbian Hungarian leader denies separatist aspirations," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 14 August 2008 (Source: Vecernje novosti, Belgrade, in Serbian 12 Aug 08).
  17. ↑ "Serbia: Minorities could withdraw support to Tadic over draft law on ministries," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 1 July 2008 (Source: FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1305gmt 01 Jul 08).
  18. ↑ "Ethnic Hungarian MPs in Serbia express support for new gov't," MTI-Eco News, 7 July 2008.
  19. ↑ "Serbian opposition, some ruling parties unsure about government having majority," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 20 December 2008 (Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1828 gmt 19 Dec 08).
  20. ↑ "'Naked interest' keeping Serbian government 'alive' - analyst," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 25 December 2008 (Source: Glas javnosti website, Belgrade, in Serbian 24 Dec 08).
  21. ↑ "Serbia: Bill offers direct ballot to minorities with one-half registered voters," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 10 July 2009 (Source: Vecernje novosti website, Belgrade, in Serbian 7 Jul 09).
  22. ↑ "Serbian governing parties differ on military neutrality, NATO membership," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 14 July 2009 (Source: Danas website, Belgrade, in Serbian 7 Jul 09).
  23. ↑ "Ethnic Hungarian MP says Serbian budget not in line with constitution," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 22 December 2009 (Source: B92 TV, Belgrade, in Serbian 1400gmt 22 Dec 09).
  24. ↑ "Serbian Democrats angry at ethnic party turning to Hungary over budget - daily," 26 December 2009 (Source: Danas website, Belgrade, in Serbian 24 Dec 09).
  25. ↑ "Serbian Hungarian party denies rapprochement with Progressives," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 27 February 2010 (Source: Dnevnik website, Novi Sad, in Serbian 24 Feb 10).
  26. ↑ "Serbia's 'austere' draft 2011 budget draws criticism from opposition," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 27 December 2010 (Source: Radio Belgrade in Serbian 1400 gmt 23 Dec 10).
  27. ↑ "Vojvodina Hungarians offer resolution to restitution issue," MTI - Eco News, 17 October 2011.
  28. ↑ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине, 6. мај 2012. године, ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (VAJDASАGI MAGYAR SZОVETSЕG - PАSZTOR ISTVАN - САВЕЗ ВОЈВОЂАНСКИХ МАЂАРА-ИШТВАН ПАСТОР), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 27 April 2017.
  29. ↑ "New Serbian government expected to open door to ethnic minorities," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 6 July 2012 (Source: Vecernje novosti website, Belgrade, in Serbian 1 Jul 12).
  30. ↑ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 16. и 23. марта 2014. године, ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (Vajdasagi Magyar Szovetseg - Pasztor Istvan - Савез војвођанских Мађара - Иштван Пастор), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 27 April 2017; Избори за народне посланике 2016. године » Изборне листе (АЛЕКСАНДАР ВУЧИЋ - СРБИЈА ПОБЕЂУЈЕ), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 27 April 2017.
  31. ↑ Miloš Senka, "Ne Briselu — i iz Vojvodine", Sputnik, 30 September 2016, accessed 15 May 2018.
  32. ↑ Andrew Byrne, "Orban looks beyond Hungary’s borders for anti-migrant votes," Financial Times, 20 September 2016.
  33. ↑ BÁLINT PÁSZTOR, National Assembly of Serbia, accessed 15 May 2018.
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