Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó stated that Georgia is the best example of Brussels’ hypocrisy and double standards. He emphasized that Brussels launches the same attacks against Georgia as it does against Hungary, and that the two countries will jointly fight against such pressures. Szijjártó criticized Brussels’ assessments of democracy, noting that when a patriotic party wins elections, Brussels considers it the end of democracy, whereas when a liberal party wins, democracy is in the best state. This statement came after a joint meeting of the Hungarian and Georgian governments in Budapest.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets tend to highlight Szijjártó’s statements as part of a broader critique of nationalist and conservative governments in Hungary and Georgia, often framing the comments as attempts to deflect criticism of democratic backsliding. They emphasize the importance of upholding democratic norms and criticize the double standards as a pretext used by illiberal regimes to avoid accountability.
Center: Centrist sources report Szijjártó’s remarks factually, noting the accusations of hypocrisy and double standards by Brussels towards Hungary and Georgia. They present the context of political tensions between the EU and these countries, focusing on the diplomatic dialogue and the ongoing debates about democracy and governance standards in the region.
Right: Right-leaning media emphasize Szijjártó’s critique of Brussels, portraying it as a justified condemnation of EU bias against patriotic and conservative governments. They highlight the narrative that Brussels applies double standards, favoring liberal parties while undermining nationalist ones, and praise the cooperation between Hungary and Georgia in resisting external pressures.
