Orbán aide calls US criticism ‘downright irritating’

US ambassador to Hungary Colleen Bell stated on 28 October 2015 that corruption in that country was a serious concern, using the secrecy surrounding Hungary's deal with Russia over its nuclear plant in Paks as an example.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff later rejected the criticism from the US diplomat, saying her remarks amounted to interference in Hungary's affairs.

Since assuming power in 2010, Mr Orbán's government saw itself under fire from the European Union and the United States for curbing media freedoms, its reforms of the court system, centralisation of power and a crackdown on NGOs.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: McCain sparks US-Hungary diplomatic row over Orban http://www.europeansources.info/record/mccain-sparks-us-hungary-diplomatic-row-over-orban/

ESO: Background information: MEPs debate the situation in Hungary, fundamental rights and EU values http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-meps-debate-the-situation-in-hungary-fundamental-rights-and-eu-values/

Euronews, 29.10.15: US ambassador sends alarm bell warning to Hungary http://www.euronews.com/2015/10/29/strong-american-critics-from-the-ambassador-to-hungary/

Portfolio.hu, 29.10.15: Hungary Foreign Minister responds to harsh U.S. criticism http://www.portfolio.hu/en/economy/hungary_foreign_minister_responds_to_harsh_us_criticism.30394.html

Hungary Today, 29.10.15: Hungarian Government Rebuffs US Ambassador Colleen Bell’s Criticism http://hungarytoday.hu/news/hungarian-government-rebuffs-us-ambassador-criticism-95577

Budapest Business Journal, 29.10.15: Lázár reacts to Bell: Hungary ‘is not part of the U.S.’ http://bbj.hu/politics/lazar-reacts-to-bell-hungary-is-not-part-of-the-us_106334

The Wall Street Journal, 29.10.15: Hungary Says it Won’t Take Back Migrants http://www.wsj.com/articles/hungary-says-it-wont-take-back-migrants-1446132372

---