The “paramilitary” force should be composed of local civilians who are motivated and have local knowledge and experience, he said, arguing that transferring police units to the border from other posts would be costly and would leave those posts without supervision.

Toroczkai noted that in Ásotthalom, a traditional border-guarding village on the Hungarian-Serbian border, many with experience from the 80s would gladly “return to the uniform.”

The border guards’ work should be helped with technical equipment including surveillance and infrared cameras, he said. Toroczkai repeated Jobbik’s call for amending laws to allow keeping reception centres in Hungary closed.

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