British, Irish PMs congratulate Orban on election win

Theresa May, the British prime minister, has written congratulations to her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban. May called Hungary a valuable partner of the UK, adding that ties between the two countries were gaining strength and both worked together to address global challenges based on shared values, Bertalan Havasi, Orban's press chief, said in a statement. "We strive for the broadest and deepest possible economic partnership," she wrote, adding her reassurance over the UK's unconditional commitment to European security. Leo Varadkar, Ireland's PM, in his letter of congratulations, noted that during his recent talks in Budapest, key challenges such as the future budget of the EU, Brexit and the western Balkans had been addressed. He expressed openness to working with Orban on tackling these issues and resolving other issues based on common EU values.