Orban’s address on illegal migration elicit mixed party reactions – UPDATE

Budapest, September 21 (MTI) – Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Monday address in parliament concerning measures to tackle illegal migration met with support from the ruling parties and radical nationalist Jobbik, and elicited criticism from other opposition parties.

Ruling Fidesz said that the influx of migrants cannot be tackled unless Europe declares that the continent cannot accommodate all, protects its borders, and ensures that asylum requests are evaluated outside Europe’s external borders.

The prime minister asked for the national assembly’s authorisation to involve the army in protecting the country’s borders.

In his address, the prime minister told opposition deputies that those against using the military but criticising the government for low efficiency of border control are “hypocritical”.

Concerning Hungary’s introducing tighter immigration rules, Orban said it was necessary to manage the situation, but added that Hungary cannot resolve the problem itself – stopping the influx of immigrants requires efforts by the international community. He also warned that there might be no “winter holidays” in immigration and the pressure could even increase.

Protecting the Schengen borders is not optional but mandatory for members of the European Union; either all observe those rules or the rules should be changed by a common will, Orban said.

The prime minister repeated his position against the proposed European quotas. He warned that the EU could pass a “bad decision” this week, which will be binding for all members. Should that happen, he said, Hungary’s parliament will need to set directions and “tell us what to do if we think a system is bad, we have fought against it, voted against it, still, it was passed into law and we must abide by it. What approach shall we take?” he asked.

Fidesz group leader Antal Rogan called for unity and cooperation without party affiliation.