Hungary’s foreign ministry has summoned the Spanish ambassador over the Spanish foreign minister’s critical remarks of Hungary.
Foreign ministry State Secretary Levente Magyar highlighted that Josep Borell, “the foreign minister of the far-left Spanish government, launched an insulting and violent outburst” against Hungary at a public forum on Tuesday.
The state secretary said the two countries can disagree on certain matters, “and in this turbulent European political situation,” certain countries may face criticism, but the tone of these criticisms “mustn’t overstep the framework of honesty and fair cooperation,” especially if Hungary is not there to respond.
Borell had accused Hungary of xenophobia at the forum and said the country lacked a separation of powers and press freedom. He also called Hungary and other countries in the region “pseudo-democracies".
Hungary rejects the minister’s claims, the state secretary said, adding that “everyone can see for themselves” that Hungary has a free press, separation of powers and that Hungarians are not xenophobic.
The Hungarian government, Magyar said, “cannot accept a tone like the one used by Josep Borell”.