Interview – Vona: Hungarians fear ‘return to one-party rule’

Budapest, April 11 (MTI) – Commenting on a government proposal to amend the constitution with the aim of tightening anti-terrorism laws, Jobbik leader Gábor Vona told public radio on Monday that support from his party for the measures that require a two-thirds majority would be contingent on guarantees that the ruling Fidsez party would not amass powers under the changes which could return Hungary to “one-party rule”.

Referring to cross-party talks held on Friday, Vona told Kossuth radio that whereas it is true that Hungarians fear migration and terrorism, they also fear a return to authoritarian rule. Whereas it is true that counter-terrorism measures do inconvenience society, for instance in the area of human rights, there must be limitations on the powers of the state and legal guarantees that all parties can support, he said.

He also criticised the way in which the government’s proposals were being handled, noting that both the interior and defence ministries were managing the process “chaotically and through several channels”.