Socialists do not rule out discussing constitutional amendment on ‘state of terrorist threat’

Budapest, January 13 (MTI) – The opposition Socialists have said they do not rule out discussing a constitutional ruling Fidesz-backed amendment connected with legal regulations for a “state of terrorist threat”, party lawmaker Zsolt Molnar said on Wednesday.

The government has proposed amending the constitution to include a so-called “state of terrorist threat” among instances that mandate the mobilisation and, if need be, the domestic deployment of the armed forces.

The Socialist politician told public Kossuth Radio that the Socialists had already stated, in connection with illegal migration, that the constitutional position of the army was not fully in order.

Consultations on legal regulations for the “state of terrorist threat” held at the defence ministry with party representatives on Tuesday were attended by the ruling parties Fidesz and Christian Democrats and the opposition Jobbik and LMP but not by the Socialists.

Molnar told Kossuth radio that the Sociaists’ refusal to attend was a symbolic gesture to show that it is not possible to consult on such a major issue just a few hours after receiving a “patchwork” ill-defined proposal.

However, the party’s decision to stay away from Tuesday’s consultations does not mean that they would not attend any of the talks on the matter, he said. Certain elements of the government proposal involve disproportionately strong restrictions on the excuse of the threat of terrorism, so the Socialists will want to raise certain questions about this, he added.

Speaking after Defence Minister Istvan Simicsko’s talks with four of the five parliamentary parties on the matter, Fidesz deputy group leader Gergely Gulyas said the worsening security situation in Europe calls for instances of terrorist threats to be regulated by the constitution.

Under the amendment the government could declare a state of terrorist threat after a terrorist attack or during a period of a high threat of terrorism. In such an instance, the government would be authorised to pass decrees that would suspend or deviate from certain laws while leaving the provisions of the constitution intact. These decrees would remain effective for 60-day periods and would expire if parliament does not renew them before the 60 days are up.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters