Hungarian PM initiates constitutional amendment to keep migrants out

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said here Tuesday he had initiated a constitutional amendment declaring that no groups of people may be settled in Hungary without the agreement of parliament.

This, he said, was an issue of sovereignty, and "no decision coming from Brussels can cast doubts on Hungary's inalienable right to territorial integrity and its population."

Orban argued this was not a matter of politics but a national issue. A total of 3.3 million people rejected the forced settlement of migrants in Sunday's EU migrant quota referendum in Hungary, which is about one million more than the number of people supporting the Fidesz Party, he said.

According to him, it is fair to assume these voters support political parties other than his, which makes it a national decision that goes beyond politics.

Orban announced that four points of the constitution would be amended, declaring that no person who did not have the right of free movement would be allowed to settle in Hungary unless that person submitted an individual request to the Hungarian authorities. At that point, there would be a decision made on a case-by-case basis, in conformity with a law parliament would enact, but no groups would be allowed to settle, he continued.

The cabinet would be studying the proposed amendment on Wednesday, he added.

A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote. Although the Fidesz Party is several votes short of the two-thirds, the right-wing Jobbik Party has indicated it would support the government.

Although fewer people voted in the referendum than the 50 percent required for validity, the PM noted, he pointed to the 98 percent support of the millions who did participate and said he did not believe Brussels would ignore their will.

In addition, Brussels did not have the right to pass any regulations that supersede a national constitution, Orban said. Endit