Brussels “will face consequences” if they choose to ignore the result of Hungary’s upcoming anti-migrant referendum, the UK's Daily Express reports today.
Lajos Kósa, a vice president of Hungary’s Fidesz party, said the failing bloc must respect the people of Hungary’s decision when they vote in the Brexit-inspired referendum on whether to accept migrants under EU quota schemes.
The prime minister has urged his country to say ‘no’ to all migrants after hailing Britain’s momentous decision to break away from the EU as the nation “taking back its island”.
Hungary has repeatedly clashed with the EU over the migrant crisis with Orbán warning that uncontrolled migration is threatening Europe’s cultural identity.
Kósa said the referendum results would be binding for the EU superstate.
He said that "the decision of the citizens will give a very solid authorization for the government, and according to the latest polls, the majority of the Hungarian citizens will vote against migration.
“There is no example of the EU ignoring the result of a referendum before. There would be unforeseeable consequences if the EU would ignore the results of the referendum."
Kósa refuted claims that the referendum is part of the Hungarian government's plans to exit from the 27-member bloc.
“This is a ridiculous thing to say. The government firmly believes that Hungary has to stay in the EU, although in several topics we don’t agree with Brussels," he said.
Prime Minister Orbán called for a nationwide referendum after the EU announced its migrant quota plans to resettle 160,000 Syrian refugees among the existing member states.
And on October 2nd, the people of Hungary will be asked if they want to accept any future EU mandatory quota systems for resettling migrants.
Ever since the migrant crisis erupted last year, with more than one million refugees pouring into Europe, Hungary has taken a robust stance on defending its borders.
The country sits on the so-called Western Balkans route, used by migrants to make their way from southeastern Europe to the EU.
In response, PM Orbán insisted enough was enough and ordered that a protective fence be built along his borders with Serbia and Croatia.
But this hasn’t stopped people making the perilous journey - Hungary has registered more than 19,000 asylum applications this year and it's believed more than 14,000 migrants have crossed its southern borders illegally.