Ruling Fidesz group leader Lajos Kósa, the head of the defence committee, argued that the amendment was necessary because it was the only way the army could be mobilised or deployed if the country were threatened by a terrorist plot.

He said it would be “extremely irresponsible” of parliament if it failed to pass the law because there are many actions the army can take that the police cannot under a terrorist threat. Kósa said he was hopeful that the opposition would support the bill, as the government has compromised on every point in it.

Zsolt Molnár, the Socialist head of the national security committee, said the government’s representatives had failed to present convincing arguments at Friday morning’s meeting as to why the constitution needed an amendment that “would only serve the distribution of government propaganda”.

The Socialist Party will, however, support the interior ministry’s counter-terrorism proposals, he said. Green opposition LMP co-leader Bernadett Szél noted that her party’s condition for supporting the bill was for the government to present a sound argument for introducing the special measures.

Szél said the government had failed to accomplish this, adding that LMP still considers the bill unnecessary. Jobbik MP Ádám Mirkóczki said his party was undecided about the bill.

He said Jobbik considered it important to be able to deploy the army if the country faces a terrorist threat.

The party will wait to see what changes the government makes to the bill, though on balance he favoured recommending the amendment in its current form to fellow party members. Parliament is scheduled to vote on the bill on Tuesday.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.