Infected Hungary–Sweden before ministerial meeting in Brussels
Brussels – A dispute has erupted between Hungary and Sweden. On Monday, emotions ran high when Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán falsely claimed that “284 underage girls have been arrested for as many murders” in Sweden.
“Outrageous lies,” said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. However, ahead of Tuesday’s EU ministerial meeting in Brussels, he received the same words thrown back at him from the Hungarian government.
“The Swedish Prime Minister said that we imprison opposition members in Hungary. I can say that this is a lie,” said Hungary’s EU Minister János Bóka as he entered the meeting.
No Swedish-Hungarian peace talks are to be expected.
“I will not give more oxygen to Viktor Orbán and his lies by bringing it up at today’s ministerial meeting,” said Swedish EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz upon her arrival, shortly after Bóka.
“But I can state that it is indeed a lie and an obvious desperate attempt to divert attention from the serious problems that Hungary itself has with the principles of the rule of law and oppression in all forms against civil society,” said Rosencrantz.
On Monday, Sweden’s Prime Minister commented on Orbán’s outburst:
“We are not entirely unaccustomed to hearing nonsense from Hungary. To be honest, what Hungary is doing to Ukraine is much worse than Orbán spreading lies about Sweden,” said Ulf Kristersson.
