11.10.2016, 15:00
Non-Hungarians Cannot Be Relocated to Hungary’s Territory
OREANDA-NEWS. “Non-Hungarians cannot be relocated to Hungary’s territory” Minister of State for Government Communications Bence Tuzson highlighted from among the contents of the constitutional amendment submitted to Parliament, at a press conference held jointly with Minister of Justice László Trócsányi.
Mr. Tuzson told reporters: The Fidesz parliamentary group leader has convened a five-party discussion for Tuesday on the issue of the seventh amendment to the Fundamental Law. According to Mr. Tuzson, the Government is open to all suggestions with regard to the text that underpin the goal of the amendment, stressing that “it is important that everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinion and develop their own standpoint on the issue”.
“It is most regrettable that the socialists are not willing to participate in this and the Government hopes they will change their minds at some point and also recognise the fact that people who voted "no" expressed a will that goes beyond party politics”, he noted.
In reply to a question, the Minister of State confirmed that according to current estimates the National Assembly is expected to vote to adopt the changes on 8 November.
“The seventh amendment to the Fundamental Law has been made possible by the mandate of the Hungarian people, because more that 3.3 million voted No to the mandatory relocation quota”, he pointed out.It was this recommendation that we had to translate to the language of law and include in the Constitution”, he said, adding that “these people have expressed a common and unified will that goes beyond party politics; they stood up for themselves and for Hungary”.
“By doing so, they brought into being a new unity for Hungary, and it is the moral duty of the Hungarian Government to react to this at a legislative level”, he highlighted.
Minister of Justice László Trócsányi explained the amendments, which will effect four points in the Fundamental Law.
The first amendment involves the National Creed, stating: “We declare that the protection of our self-identity, which has its roots in our historical constitution, is the fundamental duty of the state”.
With regard to the second point, he explained that in the interests of enabling Hungary to participate as a member of the European Union, the practicing of spheres of competence must be in harmony with the fundamental rights and freedoms set down in the Fundamental Law, and cannot limit Hungary’s unalienable power of disposal over its territorial unity, population, form of government and state system. This may also be regarded as a core element of the constitution, which is also a kind of check and limit to EU law. “Hungary is committed to its membership of the European Union and regards European values as extremely important”, he added.
“The amendment also states that the protection of Hungary’s constitutional identity is the duty of every state body”, he continued. “This is aimed at providing courts with some kind of interpretation”, the Minister said.
The fact that non-Hungarians cannot be relocated to Hungary’s territory will also be included in the Constitution, he confirmed. Foreign nationals can only live in Hungary if the Hungarian authorities have assessed and authorised their request in accordance with an immigration procedure set down in legislation by the National Assembly. “This does not apply to citizens of the European Economic Area”, he pointed out.
In reply to a question concerning a possible new wave of migration, Mr. Trócsányi said the wording of the text was preceded by a highly detailed analysis and will provide sufficient protection.
The Minister said he didn’t deny that there could be conflicts between EU law and national law in certain cases, but the Constitutional Courts of every country have made decisions which state that certain “stipulating constitutions override European Union law”.
“However, the Government is only prepared to support an amendment that would not require Hungary to exit the European Union”, the Minister of Justice indicated.
In reply to a question concerning comments by the European Commission on the temporary suspension of the publication of Hungarian daily Népszabadság, Mr. Tuzson said: The Government regards the freedom of the press as extremely important, and one of its most important elements is also the fact that a government should not interfere in the work of editorial staff or in the decisions of a private publisher. “Accordingly, the Government would not like to comment on this decision, which according to the statement issued by the owner is of an economic nature”, he said.
Mr. Tuzson told reporters: The Fidesz parliamentary group leader has convened a five-party discussion for Tuesday on the issue of the seventh amendment to the Fundamental Law. According to Mr. Tuzson, the Government is open to all suggestions with regard to the text that underpin the goal of the amendment, stressing that “it is important that everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinion and develop their own standpoint on the issue”.
“It is most regrettable that the socialists are not willing to participate in this and the Government hopes they will change their minds at some point and also recognise the fact that people who voted "no" expressed a will that goes beyond party politics”, he noted.
In reply to a question, the Minister of State confirmed that according to current estimates the National Assembly is expected to vote to adopt the changes on 8 November.
“The seventh amendment to the Fundamental Law has been made possible by the mandate of the Hungarian people, because more that 3.3 million voted No to the mandatory relocation quota”, he pointed out.It was this recommendation that we had to translate to the language of law and include in the Constitution”, he said, adding that “these people have expressed a common and unified will that goes beyond party politics; they stood up for themselves and for Hungary”.
“By doing so, they brought into being a new unity for Hungary, and it is the moral duty of the Hungarian Government to react to this at a legislative level”, he highlighted.
Minister of Justice László Trócsányi explained the amendments, which will effect four points in the Fundamental Law.
The first amendment involves the National Creed, stating: “We declare that the protection of our self-identity, which has its roots in our historical constitution, is the fundamental duty of the state”.
With regard to the second point, he explained that in the interests of enabling Hungary to participate as a member of the European Union, the practicing of spheres of competence must be in harmony with the fundamental rights and freedoms set down in the Fundamental Law, and cannot limit Hungary’s unalienable power of disposal over its territorial unity, population, form of government and state system. This may also be regarded as a core element of the constitution, which is also a kind of check and limit to EU law. “Hungary is committed to its membership of the European Union and regards European values as extremely important”, he added.
“The amendment also states that the protection of Hungary’s constitutional identity is the duty of every state body”, he continued. “This is aimed at providing courts with some kind of interpretation”, the Minister said.
The fact that non-Hungarians cannot be relocated to Hungary’s territory will also be included in the Constitution, he confirmed. Foreign nationals can only live in Hungary if the Hungarian authorities have assessed and authorised their request in accordance with an immigration procedure set down in legislation by the National Assembly. “This does not apply to citizens of the European Economic Area”, he pointed out.
In reply to a question concerning a possible new wave of migration, Mr. Trócsányi said the wording of the text was preceded by a highly detailed analysis and will provide sufficient protection.
The Minister said he didn’t deny that there could be conflicts between EU law and national law in certain cases, but the Constitutional Courts of every country have made decisions which state that certain “stipulating constitutions override European Union law”.
“However, the Government is only prepared to support an amendment that would not require Hungary to exit the European Union”, the Minister of Justice indicated.
In reply to a question concerning comments by the European Commission on the temporary suspension of the publication of Hungarian daily Népszabadság, Mr. Tuzson said: The Government regards the freedom of the press as extremely important, and one of its most important elements is also the fact that a government should not interfere in the work of editorial staff or in the decisions of a private publisher. “Accordingly, the Government would not like to comment on this decision, which according to the statement issued by the owner is of an economic nature”, he said.
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