Accessibility links

Breaking News

Hungarian Parliament Rejects Constitutional Changes Banning Migrants

Updated

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Hungarian lawmakers have rejected constitutional amendments that would have banned the settlement of migrants in the country.

The proposal won only 131 votes in the 199-seat parliament, just short of the necessary two-thirds majority of 133.

The parliamentary vote on November 8 was the second major setback for Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, a ring-wing and antimigrant populist.

In October, Hungarians voted in a referendum to reject a European Union migrant quota, but a low turnout made the vote invalid.

Orban's efforts to pass the legislation came in reaction to a EU-set migrant quota agreed in 2015 that would relocate 160,000 migrants across the bloc.

Under the quota, Hungary would receive 1,294 migrants.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG