Hungary cannot support Mark Rutte for NATO chief, minister says

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte addresses journalists during a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, January 23, 2024. REUTERS/Amel Emric/File Photo

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's government cannot support Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become NATO's next secretary general, Hungary's foreign minister told a press conference on Tuesday.

"We certainly can't support the election of a man to the position of NATO's secretary general, who previously wanted to force Hungary on its knees," Peter Szijjarto said, referring to Rutte's position taken during the spat between Hungary and the EU over rule-of-law concerns.

(Reporting by Boldizsar Gyori)