Hungarian politicians respond to night of violence

The reaction of politicians to last night's violence has been mixed, with the ruling coalition condemning and downplaying the unrest, and the opposition focusing on Gyurcsány's leaked admission of lying as the root cause of the violence.

• According to hvg.hu, Ferenc Gyurcsány appealed to every leading political force to make it clear that street fighting is not a solution to any political disagreement.

• Tibor Navrasics, leader of the parliamentary faction of main opposition party Fidesz, argued that riots are a "consequence" of people's disappointment with democracy, and a result of Gyurcsány's lies.

• Ibolya Dávid, leader of second opposition party MDF, demanded Gyurcsány apologize and disappear from public life, while asking Fidesz to recall violent protestors from the streets.

• Gábor Kuncze, leader of minority governing party SZDSZ, said a line should be drawn under the violence, and that it does not reflect 21st century Hungary.

• Mayoral candidate István Tarlós, backed by far-right group Jobbik, promised to distance himself from the party if it became clear that many of its activists were among rioters last night. "To protest is a right, to destroy a television station is not," he said this morning.

• Current mayor Gábor Demszky has requested that future public demonstrations are approved before people are allowed to take to the streets. He condemned the "uninhibited criminality" of the protests and demanded the Viktor Orbán takes a stand on the matter, because "there are people that listen to his words and not those of the government."

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