German warning to Hungary over rise of anti-Semitism

Hungary must guard itself against the rise of anti-Semitism and heed European Union warnings that the country risks drifting away from democratic principles, Germany's foreign minister has warned. Guido Westerwelle gave voice of his concerns over extreme nationalism in Hungary and EU criticism that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's strong government is eroding the checks and balances common to European democracies, the Telegraph wrote. "We have questions and we have some doubts," Westerwelle told Bild newspaper before addressing a meeting of the World Jewish Congress in Budapest. "The European Commission and the Council of Europe have not concealed their criticism of the Hungarian government. It must now be spoken about openly and honestly." Both the EU and the Council of Europe, the post-war human rights watchdog, last week criticised Orbán's government, which enjoys a two thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament, for overruling the country's constitutional court, of controversial changes to the constitution and undermining judicial checks on government power.