France on Thursday accused Hungary of “betrayal”, after investigative media published telephone conversations suggesting Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto passed on information to Russia.
A consortium of Eastern European media outlets — The Insider, VSquare and Delfi — claimed last month that Szijjarto had provided Moscow with “direct-line” access to “strategic information on crucial issues”.
“This is a betrayal of the solidarity required between the countries of the European Union,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told broadcaster France Inter.
“If we want to be strong in a world where new empires are rising, then we must be united and we must stand in solidarity,” he said.
“We do sometimes have disagreements amongst ourselves, including strategic disagreements. But it is unity that must prevail, otherwise we will become the vassals, the playthings of empires, which we refuse to accept,” Barrot added.
The investigation cited leaked recordings and transcripts of phone calls, in one of which Szijjarto is alleged to have told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, “I am at your service.”
Szijjarto has denounced “foreign interference” in Hungary’s election campaign.
On Sunday, Hungary holds parliamentary elections in which pro-Russian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban faces his biggest challenge in years.
Peter Magyar, who is the frontrunner to unseat Orban, has suggested that Szijjarto should face life in jail for “treason”.
Barrot said meetings in Brussels take various forms and the latest revelation “casts a shadow of doubt over the integrity of our deliberations”.
“And that is why we are calling on Viktor Orban not only to keep his word, but also to uphold the principle of solidarity,” he added.
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