“The referendum is not about the government but about the lives of each of us and with whom we choose to live.” Lázár said German Chancellor Angela Merkel had recently declared she would turn back the clock if she could. But this is not possible, he said.

The only solution is to send refugees to beyond the EU borders, he added. Hungary is among the EU countries that show the greatest solidarity because it is protecting the bloc’s borders with no support from the community, Lázár said. In contrast, in the past 18 months to date, the European Commission has “not produced a single unambiguous remark on protecting the borders,” he insisted.

No breakthrough was reached at the informal EU summit in Bratislava last Friday with a view to changing Brussels’ position on migration policy, he noted. This Saturday there will be a meeting with countries on the western Balkan route which will provide another opportunity to put pressure on EU policymaking, Lázár said.

A successful Oct. 2 referendum in terms of turnout and the number of ‘no’ votes would authorise the government to propose changing Hungary’s constitution and even European law, he said.

Scandinavian countries have asked the EU to launch an infringement procedure against Hungary for refusing to take back migrants. Punishment or legal pressure is on the cards, he added.

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