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News in Brief

Parliament‘s legislative committee has approved amendments to Hungary's laws

Jul 13, 2018

Laws governing tax, the right to privacy, public assembly, and election rules have been amended

News in Brief

European Commission says it will examine Hungary’s new legislative package to determine whether it falls in line with EU law

Jun 22, 2018

An EU commission spokesman said on Thursday that it will also take the Venice Commission’s opinion into consideration when evaluating the new law

News in Brief

Hungary’s parliament passes “Stop Soros” legislative package

Jun 21, 2018

The bills contained in the package, submitted by the interior minister and requiring a two-thirds majority to pass, was approved with 160 votes in favor and 18 against

News in Brief

Parliament to vote tomorrow on the “Stop Soros” legislative package and constitutional amendment

Jun 19, 2018

The package includes changes to administrative courts, inserting defense against illegal migration into the fundamental law and protecting Hungary’s sovereignty

Blog

Q&A on the upcoming amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law

Jun 18, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

On April 8th, Hungarian voters made it clear that they don’t want to see Hungary become an immigrant country and they reject the idea of being told who may be given the right to live in their own country. Responding to that mandate, the will of the people, the Hungarian government has recently submitted a proposed amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law. Here’s a look at the details.

News in Brief

President Áder will not intercede in constitutional amendment dispute

Dec 05, 2016

The Jobbik party sought the President's intervention to help resolve disagreements surrounding the government proposed constitutional amendment

Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

Interview with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on the Kossuth Rádió programme “180 Minutes”

Nov 14, 2016

November 11, 2016

News in Brief

Jobbik party files its own constitutional amendment

Nov 14, 2016

Jobbik's version would also ban foreigners from acquiring Hungarian residency permits in exchange for purchasing a special state bond for 300,000 euros

News in Brief

PM Orbán: We will fight Brussels with Hungary's existing constitution

Nov 11, 2016

The Hungarian government will not resubmit a law to ban the European Union's migrant quotas after parliament narrowly rejected the plan this week

News in Brief

Parliament fails to pass constitutional amendment

Nov 08, 2016

The far-right Jobbik party sealed the bill's rejection by boycotting the vote. But it held out a lifeline by saying it would throw its support behind the ban if the government scrapped the residency bond scheme

News in Brief

It would be 'extremely irresponsible' not to support the constitutional amendment

Oct 31, 2016

Amending Hungary's Basic Law will require support from two-thirds of MPs, which translates into 133 votes

News in Brief

Constitutional amendment is a 'national issue' and not about politics or economics

Oct 28, 2016

The prime minister said that “the Seventh Amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary is an issue of national interest and cannot be linked to any party political debate or economic issue”

News in Brief

Some 'political issues' still surround constitutional amendment

Oct 27, 2016

The green opposition LMP party said it would decide later on whether to support the amendment, after further consideration

Issues

Referendum on EU’s Mandatory Quota System: New Unity and Changes to the Fundamental Law

Oct 20, 2016

More than 3.36 million Hungarians voted “no” in the October 2nd referendum on the EU’s proposed quota system, an overwhelming 98 percent voting in favor of the government’s position that the decision on relocation of non-Hungarians should remain a national competence.

Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s opening speech in the debate in Parliament on the proposed Seventh Amendment to the Fundamental Law [full text in English]

Oct 20, 2016

October 17, 2016, Budapest

News in Brief

Hungary is aiming to achieve the removal of mandatory resettlement quotas from Brussels

Oct 19, 2016

The issue of constitutional identity is not a Fidesz affair but that of Hungary

News in Brief Prime Minister

Proposed Seventh Amendment to the Fundamental Law [full text in English]

Oct 19, 2016

In 2015, a migratory wave of unforeseen proportions reached the borders of Europe. One and a half million people have crossed Schengen borders illegally. The cultural and economic integration of the masses of newcomers has made Europe face an unsolvable task, and uncontrolled border-crossings have significantly increased the danger of terror.

Blog

The amendment gives voice to the people’s will

Oct 19, 2016 - Zoltán Kovács

“In 2015, a migratory wave of unforeseen proportions reached the borders of Europe,” according to the text presenting the proposed amendments to the Fundamental Law of Hungary. “One and a half million people crossed Schengen borders illegally. The cultural and economic integration of the masses of newcomers has made Europe face an unsolvable task, and uncontrolled border-crossings have significantly increased the danger of terror.

News in Brief

PM Orbán: The most important thing now is preventing mandatory relocation

Oct 14, 2016

A new unity has come about in Hungary; the people have clearly stated what they want and it is the government’s duty to try and enforce their will, “and I will do everything possible to ensure that we can enforce that will, and I believe we have a chance of success," the PM said

News in Brief

Changes to the Hungarian Fundamental Law are essential

Oct 14, 2016

During next week’s meeting of the European Council it is Hungary’s political objective to prevent the mandatory quotas, or in other words, to remove this issue from the European political agenda

News in Brief

PM Orbán's constitutional changes receive the majority needed to pass through Parliament

Oct 12, 2016

The ruling Fidesz and KDNP parties along with opposition party Jobbik came to a mutual agreement following a number of lengthy discussions

News in Brief

PM Orbán submits constitutional changes to Parliament

Oct 11, 2016

The constitutional amendment, backed by the ruling Fidesz party, will seek to introduce changes to the Fundamental Law for the greater good of the Hungarian people

Speeches and Remarks Prime Minister

PM Viktor Orbán’s press conference, October 4, 2016 [full text in English]

Oct 06, 2016

Budapest, October 4, 2016

News in Brief

PM Orbán announces changes to constitution

Oct 05, 2016

The proposed changes include: A clear statement on preventing Brussels from ordering the resettlement of migrants to Hungary and a ban on mandatory group resettlements