The party said it was convinced that the parliamentary guard has no need for such weapons and insisted that the reasons for the purchase should be disclosed.

The Socialist Party said it would initiate a hearing for the commander of the Guard by parliament’s defence committee.

Tamás Harangozó, Socialist lawmaker and deputy head of the defence committee, said the commander had appeared before the committee on another matter a few weeks ago, but made no mention of plans to buy tasers for the Guard.

The opposition Dialogue for Hungary party has also raised objections to the purchase of tasers. It is not surprising that a “regime fearing its demise is arming itself with weapons,” spokesman Bence Tordai told a press conference. The spokesman asked Kövér to withdraw “his latest crazy idea”.

Tordai noted that the National Police Headquarters had rejected the introduction of such weapons in 2009 as they found them too dangerous.

Tabloid Blikk reported that the Parliamentary Guard had purchased fourth-generation tasers for 10.1 million forints to ensure the safety of lawmakers and the buildings in parliament’s immediate vicinity.

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