Fritzon claimed in Aftonbladet that there were no women in the Hungarian administration, and that the proportion of women in the parliament had dropped. According to Fritzon, the Orban government “pays women to have more children”.
Hungary’s ambassador in Stockholm, Adrien Müller responded to her attack. According to the diplomat, Fritzon “singled out Hungary with animosity” and “mistakenly or on purpose uses fake facts and misleading arguments”.
Müller underscored that the proportion of women in the government had increased since 2010 and that there were actually two women in the government – Justice Minister Judit Varga and Minister without portfolio Andrea Bartfai-Mager.
The diplomat also responded to Fritzon’s criticism of the Hunagrian pro-family action plan.
“If she refers here to the family policy package introduced by the Hungarian government providing more opportunities and support for women’s and families’ work and family life balance, she does not understand the basics of these measures. Thus, it would be better if she didn’t comment it at all”.
Family policy in Hungary refers to government measures in order to increase the national birthrate and stop the decline of Hungary’s population. Hungary’s family policy seeks to make childcare economically easier for new parents.
The Women 40 [Hungarian: Nők 40] program makes it possible for women who have worked 40 years to retire in order to get more time to spend with grandchildren or with their own old parents. Parents of one have 2 days extra paid vacation. Parents of two get 4 days and parents of three or more children receive seven days more of paid vacation than the average Hungarian.
“Contrary to misleading beliefs or distrust, women – based on their own decisions – are just as free to pursue a career in politics in Hungary as in Sweden. Let’s leave this choice to them and not comment on it from Sweden,” Müller added.
He noted that the Hungary “is committed to support families and this is its answer to demographic challenges instead of increased immigration or compulsory migrant quotas which are both so much supported by the Swedish government”.
Justice Minister Judit Varga also responded to Fritzon with a tweet saying that “as one of the female ministers of the Hungarian government, I cannot share your concerns”.
According to Heléne Fritzon, Swedish SocDem MEP and member of the #Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of the #EP, there is no woman in the #Hungarian government. Ms Fritzon, as one of the female ministers of the HU government, I cannot share your concerns.
— Judit Varga (@JuditVarga_EU) August 21, 2019