Hungary Could Ban Mandatory EU Migrant Quotas in November

BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary’s parliament could amend the constitution to ban mandatory EU migrant resettlement on Nov. 8, with the ban taking force by mid-November, the head of the ruling Fidesz party said on Tuesday, after a weekend referendum vote against the quotas.

Lajos Kosa also told a news conference that Hungary was committed to its European Union membership.

Speaking at the same news conference, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said: “We have to state clearly that without the approval of Hungarian parliament Brussels …. cannot settle any migrants in Hungary. And we have to state clearly that we ban the forced resettlement of migrants.”

An overwhelming majority of Hungarians rejected EU migrant quotas at a referendum on Sunday even though turnout was too low too make the vote valid.