Hungary: Bill Clinton’s comments offensive

Hungary’s top diplomat is criticizing former President Bill Clinton’s comments claiming Hungary and Poland want “Putin-like leadership.”

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a statement Tuesday that “it is unacceptable for someone to belittle the fight for freedom of the people of Hungary,” according to a post from the government.

{mosads}Szijjártó argued in his statement that “no one, not even Bill Clinton, can allow himself to offend the Hungarian people in this way,” The Associated Press reported.

The diplomat said Hungarians have picked their government in democratic elections.

Clinton last week scolded Poland and Hungary during a campaign stop for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, remarking on the formerly communist countries.

“Poland and Hungary, two countries that would not have been free but for the United States and the long Cold War, have now decided this democracy is too much trouble,” Clinton said on Friday, according to Bloomberg.

“They want Putin-like leadership: just give me an authoritarian dictatorship and keep the foreigners out.”

The Clintons have previously criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for perceived authoritarianism, the AP noted.