Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday ordered his country's tax chief to sue the top US diplomat in Budapest for defamation over corruption allegations. Orban's ultimatum to Ildiko Vida is the latest twist in a row with Washington. Ties have been worsening since US President Barack Obama in September criticised Budapest's moves against civil society. Washington had also banned the entry of six Hungarian officials, including Vida, for alleged corruption.
"If she does not file a lawsuit against the US charge d'affaires without delay, I will remove her," Orban said during a parliamentary debate, referring to Vida. Orban, 51, re-elected last April by a comfortable majority, also had a message for Andre Goodfriend, the top US envoy in Hungary. "Stand up, be a man, and take responsibility for what you have said!" he said, adding that the envoy should not hide behind diplomatic immunity.