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Hungarian gov't submits anti-migration law package to parliament

Source: Xinhua    2018-05-30 03:55:00

BUDAPEST, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government submitted its anti-migration law package called "Stop Soros" to the parliament here on Tuesday, targeting "organizers of illegal migration", the Hungarian parliament informed on its official website.

Citing national security concerns, the bill would let tribunal to put in jail those found guilty of "organizing illegal immigration".

According to the draft text published on the parliament's website, helping asylum-seekers to acquire refugee status could result in a jail term of up to one year if those persons were not in immediate danger, or entered Hungary illegally.

Csaba Domotor, State Secretary of the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minster Viktor Orban said in a press conference before the submission of the draft: "Hungary is ready to do battle in debates over the legislation."

Hungarian citizens deemed guilty could also be banned from entering within 8 kilometers of border areas, while foreigners could be handed expulsion orders, Domotor also said.

When asked about a recent warning of the German CDU-CSU party to the Hungarian government, Domotor said that the planned "Stop Soros" laws should take into account the recommendation of the Venice Commission.

In March the EU's rights watchdog the Venice Commission started a probe into the laws' compliance with EU values, and is due to give its official opinion in June.

Germany's CDU-CSU party's deputies are the main force of the EPP faction of the European Parliament, where Orban's Fidesz party is also a member.

Since Orban's main subject of the electoral campaign has been a fierce anti-immigration policy, opposed to the EU's relocation scheme, the government considers it has received a renewed and strong mandate from Hungarian people in order to fight the EU in this matter.

"Hungary's security interests must come first," said Domotor, adding that the laws reflected the will of the people expressed at the parliamentary election.

Orban has regularly accused foreign-funded NGOs, more specifically those receiving funds from Hungarian-born American billionaire George Soros, of meddling in Hungary's internal affairs.

The draft shall be debated next week by the new parliament, in which Orban's Fidesz party obtained 133 seats from the 199 with his junior coalition partner KDNP (Christian democrat). This gives Orban a so-called supermajority, which enables him to alter the Constitution.

Drafts of the "Stop Soros" laws published earlier this year had been criticized by rights groups in both Hungary and abroad, mainly in the European Union.

Soros' Open Society Foundation told earlier in May that it was closing its operations in Hungary and would be moving to Germany in response to the "repressive" policies of Orban's government.

Editor: Mu Xuequan
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Hungarian gov't submits anti-migration law package to parliament

Source: Xinhua 2018-05-30 03:55:00

BUDAPEST, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government submitted its anti-migration law package called "Stop Soros" to the parliament here on Tuesday, targeting "organizers of illegal migration", the Hungarian parliament informed on its official website.

Citing national security concerns, the bill would let tribunal to put in jail those found guilty of "organizing illegal immigration".

According to the draft text published on the parliament's website, helping asylum-seekers to acquire refugee status could result in a jail term of up to one year if those persons were not in immediate danger, or entered Hungary illegally.

Csaba Domotor, State Secretary of the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minster Viktor Orban said in a press conference before the submission of the draft: "Hungary is ready to do battle in debates over the legislation."

Hungarian citizens deemed guilty could also be banned from entering within 8 kilometers of border areas, while foreigners could be handed expulsion orders, Domotor also said.

When asked about a recent warning of the German CDU-CSU party to the Hungarian government, Domotor said that the planned "Stop Soros" laws should take into account the recommendation of the Venice Commission.

In March the EU's rights watchdog the Venice Commission started a probe into the laws' compliance with EU values, and is due to give its official opinion in June.

Germany's CDU-CSU party's deputies are the main force of the EPP faction of the European Parliament, where Orban's Fidesz party is also a member.

Since Orban's main subject of the electoral campaign has been a fierce anti-immigration policy, opposed to the EU's relocation scheme, the government considers it has received a renewed and strong mandate from Hungarian people in order to fight the EU in this matter.

"Hungary's security interests must come first," said Domotor, adding that the laws reflected the will of the people expressed at the parliamentary election.

Orban has regularly accused foreign-funded NGOs, more specifically those receiving funds from Hungarian-born American billionaire George Soros, of meddling in Hungary's internal affairs.

The draft shall be debated next week by the new parliament, in which Orban's Fidesz party obtained 133 seats from the 199 with his junior coalition partner KDNP (Christian democrat). This gives Orban a so-called supermajority, which enables him to alter the Constitution.

Drafts of the "Stop Soros" laws published earlier this year had been criticized by rights groups in both Hungary and abroad, mainly in the European Union.

Soros' Open Society Foundation told earlier in May that it was closing its operations in Hungary and would be moving to Germany in response to the "repressive" policies of Orban's government.

[Editor: huaxia]
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