Hungarian Foreign Minister Petar Szijjártó summoned the German ambassador to protest her criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, the head of Hungarian diplomacy announced on Facebook on Thursday.

He accused the German ambassador, Julia Gross, of “interfering in the internal affairs” of Hungary and “violating the national sovereignty of our country” with her comments in a public speech.

“The speech (…) was unacceptable in its entirety,” he stressed and added that Hungary demands “respect” from all ambassadors on its territory.

According to Hungarian media, the controversial speech of Mrs. Gross in Budapest was made yesterday Wednesday, at an event for the day of German reunification, which was celebrated yesterday.

He is reported to have noted that Prime Minister Orban is charting a course that drives the two countries apart.

Germany is Hungary’s main trade and investment partner.

Heads of German companies active in various sectors in the Hungarian market have recently complained that they are increasingly being pressured to cede market shares to government-aligned oligarchs.

Mr Orban, a populist nationalist right-wing politician, has angered his European partners over his friendly relations with Russia and his bid to attract investment from China, while critics at home and abroad accuse him of stifling democracy and the rule of law in Hungary.