Foreign Ministry Summons Sweden’s Ambassador to Budapest Over PM’s Remarks.

Budapest: Hungary’s foreign ministry has taken the unusual step of summoning Sweden’s ambassador to Budapest following comments made by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson concerning Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent visit to Georgia. Péter Szijjártó, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, stated on Wednesday that the government “firmly rejects” Kristersson’s remarks.

According to About Hungary, Minister Szijjártó expressed his views during a break in a cabinet meeting, emphasizing that “those in Brussels and European liberals can’t process the outcome of the election in Georgia.” He highlighted that the election results did not favor a liberal party but rather a conservative, sovereigntist, pro-peace, and pro-family political force, securing over 50 percent support. Szijjártó suggested that such outcomes unsettle Brussels and the liberal mainstream, prompting them to question the election results in Georgia.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister further noted that Prime Minister Orbá
n’s visit to Georgia had been met with “all kinds of … ridiculous and at times pathetic criticism.” He refrained from commenting on his Polish counterpart’s remarks but took issue with Kristersson’s suggestion that Orbán’s visit to Tbilisi was “on behalf of Russia.” Szijjártó strongly rejected this notion, affirming that Hungary represents its own national interests and does not allow others to dictate its stance.

Szijjártó revealed that the foreign ministry had summoned the Swedish ambassador to clarify Hungary’s position and requested that Swedish officials refrain from making similar comments in the future. The minister emphasized that such remarks lack mutual respect and do not contribute to improving cooperation between the two nations as allies.