“Further measures are required in view of the increased risk and threat of terrorism”, the Head of the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister declared at a conference on Saturday.
At the conference entitled “The security policy risks of migration and methods of handling it”, Antal Rogán said: The uncontrolled immigration affecting Europe has not stopped and several security authorities warn that they are preparing for acts of terrorism against Europe in the upcoming months and years. This situation requires that we step further than simply protecting our borders, the Minister said, adding that we are not talking about a simple constitutional amendment; the Government is putting forward several proposals to improve the security of everyday life.
Mr. Rogan said he hoped Parliament would come to a responsible decision with the backing of the opposition, but if not, the Government would turn to the people for support.
Thousands of migrants are attempting to enter the territory of the European Union to the south of Hungary at this very moment, he stressed. The first subject at every cabinet meeting is what measures might be required. According to the Minister, we must face a new, “barbaric” form of terrorism aimed at the weakening of European civilisation. These terrorists no longer hesitate to attack civilian targets or even children, he highlighted, referring to the terrorist apprehended in Paris, who was planning to attack a nursery school.
We required decisions that provide the administration with real room for manoeuvre to that it can protect the people of Hungary, Mr. Rogán said, adding that the Government currently has much fewer instruments at its disposal that many other countries in Europe.
He referred to the debate that has developed with relation to the proposed constitutional amendment “nonsense”, noting that he found opposition criticism citing restrictions on human rights especially preposterous coming from people who sent in riot police to combat members of the Hungarian public on 23 October 2006, a national holiday, without any kind of political mandate and without asking Parliament’s permission.
On the same subject, Minister of Defence István Simicskó pointed out that Fidesz had previously voted in favour of all proposals relating to constitutional amendments aimed at reinforcing security. They did so during the Yugoslav conflict and again when as an opposition party in 2004 they voted in favour of allowing the reinstatement of compulsory military service if Hungry is in danger from foreign attack, he said.
The Minister of Defence emphasised that there must be a clear legal solution for handling a terrorist threat of terrorist attack. “Leaving our military to sit in their barracks” if Hungary suffers a new kind of attack of this nature is something we cannot allow. The Hungarian Defence Force is playing a role in guaranteeing security, it has trained units who are currently fighting against terrorism form Iraq to Afghanistan, yet they cannot do so here at home.
The Government has also held negotiations with representatives of the opposition and told them what measures they feel are required and what usual legal practice is in Europe, to which we would like to catch up, he pointed out. According to Fidesz, the security of the population is the most important issue, and the security of the Hungarian people cannot be compromised even if “the opposition tie our hands”.
The Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor on Homeland Security, György Bakondi, explained that dangers must be handled from an internal security perspective.
We are no longer talking about people fleeing for their lives from war zones: in Hungary alone, migrants from 104 different countries of origin have been registered, he added.
The main emphasis from a national security perspective is on terrorism, but illegal migration also has several effects on public safety, Mr. Bakondi said, citing violent acts against women and the fact that common criminals, thieves, embezzlers and burglars can also be found among the illegal immigrants. He also highlighted the fact that according to data from Frontex (the European Union’s border protection agency), the one and a half million or so migrants who have flooded into the continent were helped by some thirty thousand human traffickers.
According to the Chief Security Advisor, the slow reactions of the European Union and several member states are forcing many politicians to declare that if we do not succeed in coming to a substantive decision, then this year will be even worse than last year. The reassessment of the terrorist threat and related security measures such as increases in staff at security organisations can be observed throughout Europe, Mr. Bakondi said, adding that the measures that the Hungarian Government is planning to introduce corresponds exactly to this process.