Jobbik: Fidesz pockets profit from residency bond business and keeps terrorism threat

Press release – On May 29 the Parliamentary Committee on Justice had quite a heated debate on whether to put Jobbik’s re-submitted Constitutional amendment on the Parliament’s agenda. The objective of the motion was the same: to prevent the settlement of foreign citizens coming to Hungary either by way of EU allocation quotas or through Fidesz’ residency bonds. Jobbik MP István Apáti, a member of the Committee explained that no Hungarian MP could find any fault with their motion, provided that they truly considered Hungary’s national interest and wanted to ensure a long-term protection for our country.

Unsurprisingly, the Fidesz majority of the Justice Committee was once again arrogant and hypocritical enough to block Jobbik’s constitutional bill which, if adopted, could have prevented the settlement of migrants in Hungary’s territory either by way of EU quotas or residency bonds. As a result of the body’s decision, Jobbik’s motion was yet again blocked from being debated in the National Assembly. So the Fidesz government once again clearly showed that they were not interested in Hungary’s security and could not care less about the outcome of last year’s eventually failed national referendum. All they can focus on is using the migrant issue to scare the public and pocketing the billions coming from rich but uncontrolled foreign citizens.

Who represents Hungary’s interest?

Explaining why the motion should be discussed in Parliament, Jobbik MP István Apáti pointed out that the situation which originally justified the Constitutional amendment remained the same: massive immigration was still a threat for Europe and Hungary. He emphasized that Jobbik wanted to close all doors to settlements, i.e., the party wanted neither young nor old, neither rich nor poor migrants in the territory of Hungary.

In his words: “No Hungarian MP can find any fault with this motion, provided that they truly consider Hungary’s national interest and want to ensure a long-term protection for our country.” Mr Apáti noted that Jobbik would have been unhappy about the residency bond business even if the income had directly been paid into the national budget, but the party is especially against it this way, when “the profit is pocketed by private individuals while the national security risks and the terrorism threats are left for the nation to handle.” He asked the grave question from his fellow MPs: “How will you look into the eyes of your voters and your family members when a terrorist cell organized by a rich migrant, who came to Hungary through the residency bond programme, blows something up in Budapest?”

Responding to Fidesz calling Jobbik MPs traitors on a regular basis, Mr Apáti stated that the opposition party had no reason to have a bad conscience. On the contrary, it’s the government parties that should feel ashamed for constantly sweeping of Jobbik’s motions and using double standards. The opposition MP suggested there were no rational arguments why their Constitutional amendment should not be voted on now. The only reason why it is not happening is the whim of the Prime Minister.

Fidesz’s stubbornness obliges

Similarly to the other Fidesz MPs, the Committee’s vice chairman Imre Vas gave an emotionally charged response to Mr Apáti, explaining to him that, in the government parties’ view, there was no difference if they charged “a few thousand” for the residence permit or not. Mr Vas emphasized that Fidesz was going to reject Jobbik’s motion each time it was submitted.

Jobbik refuses to keep silent

In his response, Mr Apáti called Mr Vas’ arguments cynical and pointed out that Jobbik would not remain silent and keep nodding in agreement to the government parties’ regular high treasons.

Jobbik’s MP also pointed out that last year’s astronomically expensive national referendum and the anti-immigration stance had both become expired political products for Fidesz, just like the ideal of the “civic Hungary” earlier. After the heated, even quarrelsome debate, the committee’s Fidesz majority eventually refused to put the motion on the Parliament’s agenda.

Source: Jobbik.com – Press release