Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjártó says Bill Clinton's comments about Hungary and Poland wanting "authoritarian dictatorship" are offensive and unacceptable.
The minister has said in a statement that "no one, not even Bill Clinton, can allow himself to offend the Hungarian people in this way."
He added that Hungarians choose their own path in democratic elections, even if their pick doesn't appeal to Clinton.
Former President Clinton said last week during a speech in New Jersey in support of wife Hillary's presidential campaign that although Hungary and Poland "would not be free" without the efforts of the U.S., they had decided "democracy is too much trouble" and "want (Russian President Vladimir) Putin-like leadership."
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been criticized before by the Clintons for concerns about democracy in Hungary and supposed trends toward authoritarian.