Cabinet office state secretary Csaba Dömötör has responded to Guy Verhofstadt’s recent criticism of the Hungarian government’s “national consultation” survey on the so-called Soros plan.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Verhofstadt slammed the campaign as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s “populist quest to reinforce his autocratic rule by generating fear”.
“Mobilising citizens against an alleged external threat, just months ahead of parliamentary elections, targeting [US financier] Mr [George] Soros in person, is disgusting,” Verhofstadt said. He added that it reminded him of “the worst times of European history."
Dömötör was quick to respond to the comments and pointed out that it is clear Verhofstadt supports the "Soros" plan.
“The reality is that the liberal politician who regularly lectures Hungary clearly supports the proposals that the consultation is about," he said.
The state secretary noted that Verhofstadt had called on Hungarian citizens to vote “yes” in last year's referendum on EU migrant quotas to resettle migrants in Hungary.
According to MTI, Dömötör said that after this it was “gravely impudent” of Verhofstadt to deny the “plans” referenced in the survey. He also argued that Verhofstadt’s call for the EU to condemn the survey went against the freedom of expression.
All Hungarians have a right to express their thoughts on “the completely irrational and risky relocation plans," he said.
The secretary said that Verhofstadt’s “offensive remarks” only gave Hungarians further reason to take part in the survey. If Verhofstadt truly cared about democratic values, he, too, would ask the European people what they think about illegal migration and migrant relocation plans, he added.