Orban: Managing migrant crisis has strengthened govt

Budapest, September 9 (MTI) – The management of the migrant crisis has made ruling Fidesz government stronger politically over the past four years, the daily Magyar Idők, which is allied to government, quoted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as saying at the Fidesz-Christian Democrat groups’ three-day meeting in Balatonfüred, in western Hungary.

Orbán said the reason why was that the government’s position on migration reflects the views of society.

The paper said the prime minister gave a thorough analysis of the international migration situation at the meeting, specifically highlighting Turkey and Italy’s situation. Orbán also talked about last weekend’s German state election in which Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats were beaten to second place by the anti-immigrant AfD. Orbán noted that CDU had never before been beaten from the right.

Regarding Hungary’s Oct. 2 migrant quota referendum, Orbán said the vote was not about the country’s everyday domestic political battles but rather about Hungary’s future. It is about Hungary protecting its communities, culture and strengthening its security, Orbán was quoted as saying.