Hungarian ruling parties reject ‘attack from Brussels’

Budapest (MTI) – MEPs of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz and Christian Democratic parties have rejected critical remarks by MEPs from various groups made at a press conference in Strasbourg on Wednesday, labeling those remarks as “another political attack on Hungary”.

“Hungary’s future should be determined by Hungarians,” authors of the statement said, and protested that “politicians in Brussels and Strasbourg should tell the Hungarian people what to do”.

At the press conference in Brussels, dedicated to the human rights situation in Hungary and a bill on civil organisations, Gianni Pittella, head of the Social Democrat group in the European Parliament, said that Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister, “must be stopped” from what he described as dismantling democracy in the country.

Liberal MEP Sophie in Veld said Hungary’s people were now “victims” denied good education, academic freedom or access to free media or civil organisations. She insisted that the European People’s Party should not defend Orbán but stand against him. She also urged activation of Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Hungary.