Hungarian lawmakers have approved a constitutional amendment granting the government extended powers, including the possibility of deploying the armed forces, in case of terror acts or threats.
The amendment approved by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, his Christian Democratic allies and support from the far-right opposition Jobbik party says the government can declare a "terrorism state of emergency" — a new legal concept added to the Fundamental Law, as the constitution is now called.
It introduces extraordinary measures for up to 15 days before needing confirmation from a two-thirds majority in parliament.
The government says the amendment, which takes effect July 1, was needed to prevent and handle the "new type of security challenges" on the rise in Europe.