Hungary Calls in Ambassador from NATO Member State
Budapest has raised objections to Sweden's criticism regarding Prime Minister Viktor Orban's choice to congratulate the winning party in the recent Georgian election. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Budapest has expressed its discontent regarding Sweden’s critique of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s decision to congratulate the winning party in Georgia’s recent elections.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry called in Swedish ambassador Diana Madunic following remarks made by Sweden's prime minister, who criticized Orban for supporting the Georgian Dream party after their electoral victory.
In the South Caucasus, the Central Electoral Commission reported that the ruling Georgian Dream party, which aims to establish pragmatic relations with all its neighbors, including Russia, secured 54% of the vote last Saturday. However, pro-Western opposition groups and Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili have rejected the election outcomes, alleging that Georgian Dream engaged in electoral manipulation.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe monitored the elections and concluded that while there were no significant voting irregularities, some instances of vote-buying and pressure on public employees were noted. The United States and several EU member states have advocated for inquiries regarding these perceived violations.
On Wednesday, Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson told the TT news agency that Orban, who traveled to Georgia shortly after the tense elections, “did not speak for Europe,” but “possibly speaks for Russia.”
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto responded during an appearance on Hungary’s M1 TV channel, asserting that it is “beyond the pale” for any nation, especially a NATO ally, to “call into question whose position and interests the Hungarian prime minister represents.” He stressed that the Hungarian government, including Orban, unequivocally advocates for Budapest’s interests.
Critics frequently characterize the Georgian Dream party as pro-Russian, and similar accusations have been directed at the Hungarian prime minister, both of whom have denied such claims.
Orban was quick to congratulate the Georgian Dream party on their victory, doing so even before the official results were released. He was also the first foreign leader to visit Georgia after the elections and, in a speech in Tbilisi on Tuesday, remarked that the Georgian people “made a decision” and “voted for peace.” He added that the Georgian government had managed to enforce pro-European policies without allowing the nation to become “a second Ukraine.”
In a separate development, 13 EU member states, including Germany and France, issued a joint statement on Monday criticizing Orban’s “premature visit to Georgia,” asserting that the Hungarian prime minister “does not speak on behalf of the EU.”
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry called in Swedish ambassador Diana Madunic following remarks made by Sweden's prime minister, who criticized Orban for supporting the Georgian Dream party after their electoral victory.
In the South Caucasus, the Central Electoral Commission reported that the ruling Georgian Dream party, which aims to establish pragmatic relations with all its neighbors, including Russia, secured 54% of the vote last Saturday. However, pro-Western opposition groups and Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili have rejected the election outcomes, alleging that Georgian Dream engaged in electoral manipulation.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe monitored the elections and concluded that while there were no significant voting irregularities, some instances of vote-buying and pressure on public employees were noted. The United States and several EU member states have advocated for inquiries regarding these perceived violations.
On Wednesday, Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson told the TT news agency that Orban, who traveled to Georgia shortly after the tense elections, “did not speak for Europe,” but “possibly speaks for Russia.”
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto responded during an appearance on Hungary’s M1 TV channel, asserting that it is “beyond the pale” for any nation, especially a NATO ally, to “call into question whose position and interests the Hungarian prime minister represents.” He stressed that the Hungarian government, including Orban, unequivocally advocates for Budapest’s interests.
Critics frequently characterize the Georgian Dream party as pro-Russian, and similar accusations have been directed at the Hungarian prime minister, both of whom have denied such claims.
Orban was quick to congratulate the Georgian Dream party on their victory, doing so even before the official results were released. He was also the first foreign leader to visit Georgia after the elections and, in a speech in Tbilisi on Tuesday, remarked that the Georgian people “made a decision” and “voted for peace.” He added that the Georgian government had managed to enforce pro-European policies without allowing the nation to become “a second Ukraine.”
In a separate development, 13 EU member states, including Germany and France, issued a joint statement on Monday criticizing Orban’s “premature visit to Georgia,” asserting that the Hungarian prime minister “does not speak on behalf of the EU.”
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
