Foreign Minister: Critics of ‘Stop Soros” bill question Hungarian government’s authority

Anyone who criticises Hungary’s “Stop Soros” bill, which seeks to put restrictions on migration, questions its government’s power to take sovereign decisions, the foreign minister said on Tuesday.

It is clear that illegal migration works against Hungary’s interests and dismantling the fence along the country’s southern borders would work against the security interests of Hungarians, Péter Szijjártó told a press conference held in Budapest on another topic.

“So-called civil groups” promoting migration and open borders are against Hungary’s national security interests, he said.

It is the duty of the government to take measures, including legal ones, to prevent activities that compromise the country’s national security, he said.

The foreign minister commented specifically on the statement by Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn voicing protest against the bill on Monday and calling for activation of the EU Treaty’s Article 7 against Hungary.

This exchange concerns the dispute between two governments, which is normal on an issue such as migration, said Szijjártó. Luxembourg has a pro-migration government in place whereas Hungary has one opposing it, he said, adding that he expected the dispute to wear on for a long time.

Hungary is protecting European values, which includes maintaining the continent’s security, Szijjártó said, adding this goal is best served by protecting the borders and preventing the entry of illegal migrants.

Without the fence, not 400,000, but several million illegal migrants “would have trampled through” the country, he said.

Answering a question, Szijjártó said the Hungarian government is engaged “in an open dispute” with US billionaire George Soros along clear lines. “Soros doesn’t like Hungary being led by this government and he wants even more migrants to come to Europe, just as much as he wants open borders,” he said, adding that the Hungarian government’s position was just the opposite.

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Source: MTI