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.

In the referendum Hungarians will be asked: “Do you want to allow the European Union to mandate the resettlement of non-Hungarian citizens to Hungary without the approval of parliament?”

Orbán reportedly told his parliamentary group that all members of government, state secretaries and members of the Fidesz-Christian Democrat would be expected to play active roles in the referendum campaign. Orbán said he himself would also campaign to ensure as high a turnout for the “no” camp as possible on Oct. 2.

Magyar Idők said Orbán will be speaking to his party’s base of policy professionals on Sept. 11. The paper also said the prime minister plans to open the autumn session on parliament on Sept. 12 with a major policy speech. The party’s plan is to have Orban take on a bigger role in the referendum campaign after the Sept. 16 EU summit in Bratislava, Magyar Idők said.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI