ALDE President Guy Verhofstadt has made the following comment on the political situation in Hungary:

"One and half year in power with an overwhelming majority Prime Minister Orban has done little to make Hungary more modern and democratic. "

"Facing financial apocalypse Prime Minister Orban would be well advised to seek across the aisle support for his economic and fiscal reforms instead of looking for"an own way" which leads nowhere. "

"Cutting back on media freedoms, independence of Constitutional court and Central Bank, freedom of religion and sexual orientation drives you closer to communist past that Orban so "loudly" and rightly deplores. "

"Hungary should follow decisions of its constitutional court last week that has demanded changes to the laws on media and the judiciary, and blocked government plans to slash the number of religions that are allowed to operate in Hungary. Orban should reconsider changes that could reduce the independence of Hungary’s central bank and thereby contravene EU law."

"2012 is decisive for Hungary. Orban must face his critics and the people. Reaffirm pluralistic democracy or be on the wrong side of history."