Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said upholding the rule of law is not a legal issue for Hungary, but rather a matter of honor.
During a press conference in Budapest after talks with Finnish prime minister Antti Rinne, currently holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, PM Orbán said that for Hungary, which following World War II was under Soviet occupation for forty years, upholding the rule of law is a matter of honor.
“When they question us or the rule of law in Hungary, they are in fact offending our honor and I would strongly suggest they think twice about it,” PM Orbán said, adding that international relations are not built on one country offending another but on mutual respect and no country should level unfounded accusations against another.
The Prime Minister reminded that comparing rule of law in various countries is a difficult proposition because of dissimilar legal systems: Hungary, for example has institutions safeguarding the rule of law which Finland doesn’t.
“Despite this, I wouldn’t venture to say that the rule of law is weaker in Finland than in Hungary,” PM Orbán said.
“I wouldn’t recommend to reach a situation in Europe where one prime minister or any other official visits another country to scald them about the rule of law, because that can be conducive to many things, but certainly not European unity.”
Photo credit: kormany.hu