The Hungarian government’s recent actions against Jews and the Roma minority may hamper relations between the United States and a strategic ally, human rights groups and the State Department said this week.
“Growing nationalism, authoritarianism, official corruption, the growing strength of anti-Semitic and racist political parties, and the increasing influence of Russia” are all impediments to better ties with Washington, Tad Stahnke, vice president of analysis and research at Human Rights First, told a congressional subcommittee Wednesday looking into U.S.-Hungarian relations.
But Hungary’s ambassador to Washington and even some U.S. lawmakers at the hearing pushed back at the criticisms of the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his ruling conservative Fidesz Party.
Hoyt Brian Yee, deputy assistant secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, called Hungary a “stalwart ally” and “valued partner,” but listed a lengthy series of concerns about the Orban government’s record on press freedoms, corruption and electoral fairness.
“Perhaps most troubling, from the highest levels of power in Hungary, we have heard rhetoric about building an ’illiberal state on national foundations’ and praising the superiority of autocracies while dismissing the distraction of ’multiculturalism, political correctness and similar magic words,’” Mr. Yee said in his statement. “Such comments do not do justice to the democratic values that Hungary is pledged to uphold.”
Recently-appointed Hungarian Ambassador Reka Szemerkenyi told the panel that the accusations are overblown, arguing that Budapest remains a key U.S. ally “in a very pivotal moment for European and transatlantic security.”
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Hungary has assisted the United States by supplying troops to assist against the Islamic State group in Iraq and has also provided a strategic support for Ukrainian forces against Russia, she noted.
One key lawmaker concurred with the ambassador’s assessment. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, the California Republican who chaired the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee meeting, said, “When we’re dealing with trying to decide on foreign policy, it better not be singling out a country as friendly to the U.S. as Hungary.”
Other concerns were raised about the Hungarian party Jobbik, the second largest party in the country, which Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican and a leading voice for human rights on Capitol Hill, called a “disgusting antisemitic and pro-Iranian organization.”
Fidesz, the center-right majority party currently holds two-thirds of the seats in the Hungarian parliament, and Jobbik has a fifth.
U.S. criticisms of Hungary risk producing a backlash, some private analysts warned.
“The way that we have singled out Hungary … has caused more anti-Americanism in Hungary,” said Kurt Volker, executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership.
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Mr. Volker also dismissed claims of the weakening of civil rights and the rule of law, citing a “vigorous public discussion” where “there are even protests outside of the prime minister’s house.”
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