BUDAPEST, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government strongly rejected the criticism of the French government on the violation of the rule of law in Hungary, according to official sources here on Monday.
"The government will not retreat, but will continue to protect the security of Hungary with all its strength," Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in a statement in response to the remarks on Hungary by Nathalie Loiseau, French minister on European affairs.
In an interview with French news magazine "l'Obs", Loiseau said that France had to "fight a historic battle against the Hungarian government, because Hungary was on the wrong track and that European radicals had to be stopped".
The French minister also warned of "real risks" of violation of the rule of law in Hungary, giving "reduction of the pluralism of the press, threats to the independence of the judiciary" as examples.
In response, Szijjarto reminded that Hungary was not the colony of France. "The French politician wants to tell Hungarian people how to live, refusing to accept that the Hungarians voted for a third consecutive time for Viktor Orban and his government."
The Hungarian minister also said that the battle for the future of Europe would be decided by European people at next year's European Parliament elections.
