Hungarian MPs reject Orbán’s proposal for a constitutional amendment on migration

Hungary's parliament rejected on 8 November 2016 a proposal put forward by the country's prime minister to change the constitution and prevent resettlement of refugees.

The outcome was reached thanks to the decision of the far-right Jobbik party to team up with other opposition parties to vote against the plan, leaving the government two votes short of the two-thirds majority it needed.

The proposal had been put forward as a follow-up to the result of a referendum held in October 2016 on the EU-proposed refugee quota plan.

'The Hungarian Government will continue to fight for the security of the Hungarian people', Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared at a press conference in Budapest on the 8 November 2016.

'The vote in Parliament on the constitutional amendment has shown that the opposition cannot be counted on in the battle to protect the country', he added.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Hungarian constitution to ban relocation of migrants http://www.europeansources.info/record/hungarian-constitution-to-ban-relocation-of-migrants/

The Guardian, 08.11.16: Hungary migrant ban narrowly fails in parliamentary vote https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/08/hungarian-parliament-narrowly-rejects-pms-migrant-resettlement-ban

EurActiv, 08.11.16: Hungary’s Jobbik could thwart Orbán’s anti-migrant vote https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/hungarys-jobbik-could-thwart-orbans-anti-migrant-vote/

EUObserver, 08.11.16: Hungary MPs scupper Orban's anti-migrant plan https://euobserver.com/migration/135818

EurActiv, 08.11.16: Hungarian parliament defies Orbán by rejecting migrant ban http://www.euractiv.com/section/central-europe/news/hungarian-parliament-defies-orban-by-rejecting-migrant-ban/

Euro|Topics: Debates, November 2016: Will Orbán fail with his anti-migrant policy? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/169228/will-orban-fail-with-his-anti-migrant-policy

Hungary: Government: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: News, 08.11.16: The Government will continue to fight for the security of the Hungarian people http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/news/the-government-will-continue-to-fight-for-the-security-of-the-hungarian-people

Hungary: Government: Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister, 09.11.16: Another form of legal solution should be sought http://www.kormany.hu/en/cabinet-office-of-the-prime-minister/news/another-form-of-legal-solution-should-be-sought

ESO: Background information: Orbanism at its limits? Hungary’s referendum has exposed the first cracks in Viktor Orban’s rule http://www.europeansources.info/record/orbanism-at-its-limits-hungarys-referendum-has-exposed-the-first-cracks-in-viktor-orbans-rule/

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