Swedish PM Kristersson's Open Letter to Hungary's Orbán

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) directly addresses Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in an open letter published on X. "Dear Viktor," Kristersson begins, highlighting how Sweden helped save Hungarian Jews during World War II. The post is available in Hungarian, English, and Swedish.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has recently criticized the Swedish government, claiming it is "collapsing."

Ulf Kristersson previously dismissed Orbán's remarks as part of the Hungarian election campaign.

"We Do Not Interfere in Your Election"

The Prime Minister responds again, in Hungarian, English, and Swedish:

"Dear Viktor,

I understand that it is election season in your country, and that you are seriously challenged for power this time. But we do not interfere in your election, and we do not want to be part of it," writes the Prime Minister, highlighting the role Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg played in saving Jewish lives in Hungary in 1944.

"Tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews survived because we provided them with provisional protection passes and citizenship here in Sweden. When the Soviet Union then invaded Hungary, Raoul Wallenberg was taken to Moscow and disappeared," writes Kristersson.

Kristersson also mentions how Sweden welcomed Hungarian refugees during the Soviet Union's invasion in 1956.

"Opened Our Arms to Your Freedom Fighters"

"When Russian tanks crushed the Hungarian freedom struggle, the Hungarian people asked the UN and all Western powers for help. Almost no one listened.

But one country that showed deep solidarity with you was Sweden.

We opened our arms to your freedom fighters and opposition. We allowed you to build an exile opposition against Soviet communism here, despite our neutrality. It was not without risk for us. But we did it anyway – because it was the right thing to do," writes Kristersson, drawing parallels to Russia's current invasion of Ukraine.

"Hungary eventually regained freedom, but freedom must also be defended. Therefore, we question when you have coffee with the leader of the same country that crushed your compatriots' freedom struggle in 1956, and which today attacks your neighboring country Ukraine."

Ulf Kristersson concludes the post with:

"It may be that oil comes from the east, but freedom always comes from the west. And democracy cannot be dictated from above; it can only grow from people's hearts, thus creating a flourishing life in Hungary.

Finally, I want to express Sweden's respect for the Hungarian people and wish your country a free, peaceful, and successful election."

Orbán's False Claim

Viktor Orbán has highlighted Sweden's crime statistics in several X posts as a warning example.

"Meanwhile, criminal networks exploit Swedish children as murderers, knowing the system will not convict them, according to an article in Die Welt," wrote the Hungarian leader, making a false claim that 280 underage Swedish girls were arrested as murder suspects in 2024.

The article Orbán refers to states instead that 280 Swedish girls aged 15 to 17 were investigated for murder, manslaughter, and other serious violent crimes last year.