According to Bakondi, over the past decade, migration has remained at the center of political debate, while its impact has been increasingly visible in everyday life. “No-go zones have emerged, attacks against women have become more frequent, terrorist acts have occurred, and welfare systems have been strained — all of which have created social tensions that are now forcing policymakers to act,” he said.
He added that this changing social climate is also reflected in election results, as “parties that take a stricter stance on migration have gained ground compared to liberal left-wing forces.”
Bakondi noted that even at the level of the European Union, there are clear signs of change. He cited as an example that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen now considers strengthening border protection in Poland “necessary and desirable,” and that new legislation is being planned to facilitate deportations.
“These changes will first become visible in the European Council — the body of heads of state and government — because newly elected national leaders who favor a tougher approach to migration will be represented there,” he said.
Bakondi emphasized that migration pressure remains high. “At the Hungarian-Serbian border alone, 10,900 illegal migrants have been apprehended between the start of this year and mid-October, compared with 9,700 in the same period last year,” he pointed out.
Despite this, he expressed optimism, noting that joint efforts by Hungarian and Serbian border forces are helping to drive human smuggling gangs out of the border regions — a step that could significantly ease the situation.