Hungary summons Swedish ambassador over PM’s comments on Orbán’s Georgia visit, rejecting ‘outrageous’ interference claims
Hungary’s foreign ministry has summoned Sweden’s ambassador to Budapest over comments made by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in connection with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent visit to Georgia, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday, adding that the government “firmly rejects” Kristersson’s remarks.
Speaking during a break in a cabinet meeting, Szijjártó said “those in Brussels and European liberals can’t process the outcome of the election in Georgia”.
“The winners in Georgia weren’t the ones they wanted, but rather the Georgian people made a decision themselves, and sure enough, they didn’t elect a liberal party but a conservative, sovereigntist, pro-peace and pro-family political force, once again with over 50 percent support,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.
“They can’t come to terms with this in Brussels, and neither can the liberal mainstream, so they are trying to cause disturbance in all kinds of ways and question the outcome of the Georgian elections,” he said.
He said Viktor Orbán’s visit to Georgia this week had also received “all kinds of … ridiculous and at times pathetic criticism”.
Szijjártó said he would not comment on his Polish counterpart’s remarks, but “if the prime minister of … an EU and NATO country questions whose position and interests the Hungarian prime minister represents, that crosses a line and calls for speaking out”.
He said Sweden’s prime minister, who not long ago had been in Budapest asking Hungary to back his country’s NATO membership, had suggested this week that his Hungarian counterpart had gone to Tbilisi “on behalf of Russia”.
“That is a statement we must reject in the strongest terms,” Szijjártó said. “We do not accept anyone questioning that we represent our own interests, Hungarian national interests and the Hungarian position.”
“We are not a jawohl country; no one can tell us what to say or represent, we represent Hungarian national interests,” Szijjártó added.
He said the foreign ministry had summoned the Swedish ambassador yesterday afternoon to clarify the government’s position, and had asked that Swedish officials refrain from making such comments in the future.
Szijjártó said these kinds of remarks “are not based on mutual respect in any way, and it doesn’t appear that they strive to improve our cooperation as allies”.
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Just leave the EU. Nobody believes the hubgarian lies, not even orban
Here we go again. I cannot be the only one that reads the headlines in this country and feels physically sick? I’m seriously considering going home. No doubt 40% of the population will be cheering, sometimes this place feels as welcoming as Dante’s inferno.
Ah, Western “democracy”…
…where you are free to vote…
…for those approved to run.
And where elections are “free and fair”…
…if the right (meaning Left) guy wins.
I don’t know where you live, Steiner, I suspect it’s not in Hungary as like your comrade in arms, Maria, you seem disconnected from the reality in Hungary. I’m from the UK and I can tell you, it’s far more of a living, breathing democracy than Hungary. The electoral system has its flaws, principally the ‘first past the post’ system of counting votes, but it is at least entirely transparent and decisive. Anyone can run and electoral fraud is virtually unknown. This isn’t the main issue, which is that a democracy is a living and complex organism that needs oxygen, light, food and space to remain healthy. The UK has checks and balances, an independent judiciary and civil service, a media in which the government has no role in who publishes what and a free market economy where, again, the state is removed from market actors, its sole role is to regulate and aim to maintain a free and fair market. As a citizen I can approach myriad independent regulatory bodies and know someone will read my case and give it a fair hearing if I have an issue, free of business or political influence. I can receive a licence to conduct a business activity without having to know someone (much less pay anyone a bribe or agree to bring them in on the business). Children study a curriculum free of political indoctrination and are taught to become critical thinkers. You may express your views in your free time with absolutely no fear of losing of your job or receiving an arbitrary tax investigation.
This is a western democracy, it provides genuine inviolable freedoms and means so much more than merely entering a ballot box every 5 years to give free reign to one party, it’s a daily part of one’s life, provides assurances and guarantees on which we can all rely, irrespective of political leanings, wealth or connections. As if the benefits of structuring a country in such a way weren’t apparent at the outset, precedent shows that is clearly generates a more prosperous, fulfilled society with a longer life expectancy. These are the reasons why western democracies are destination countries for migration, because people naturally seek opportunity, prosperity, dignity and assurance. If the rest of the world sought to aim for the same standards in public life, there would be far less migration in evidence, because really, there’s nothing any of us desire more than to be happy at home.
There goes failed Sweeden again. Sweeden should clean up their no-go zones, reestablish law and order before criticizing another country. It is time for Swedish politicians to acknowledge that sovereign countries’ leaders do not need their permission to visit another foreign nation. Secondly, the people of Georgia have every right to determine their own future without interference o EU or Sweden.
It is time for the EU to stop its expansion plans for the sake further power grab by globalists and EU parliament. It is not a sin not to want to belong in the EU.
Hungary should buy fighter jets from another country. It is time for Hungary to send the Swedish Ambassador home and sever diplomatic relations with Sweeden, Sweeden is turning out to be an enemy.
@michaelsteiner – elections are supposed to be “free and fair”.
https://www.state.gov/georgia-parliamentary-elections/
Oops.
… And on Mr. Orbán´s new BFF Mr. Ivanishvili … Real proponent of democracy … Pledged to ban opposition parties should his party clinch victory. Victory it was, not enough to change the Constitution (and ban the opposition parties):
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/georgian-ruling-party-founder-vows-ban-opposition-final-pre-election-rally-2024-10-23/
Let’s all take counsel from Maria everyone, an apparent expert on ‘Sweeden’.
Yes, lets sever relations, great idea. I thought the latest wheeze in the hallowed corridors of Hungarian power are one of economic neutrality, trading with everyone if it benefits Hungary? Volvo makes great cars (at least, many Hungarians seem to think so) and Saab make great jets, at least the Hungarian government seems to think so, they recently committed to buy more and this was announced at the press conference in Budapest ratifying ‘Sweeden’ joining NATO.