Only Jobbik can provide the amount of votes needed alongside those from the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance to ensure a two-thirds majority in parliament, which is necessary for a constitutional amendment to pass, Vona told a press conference.

Amending Hungary’s constitution to protect the country from the European Union’s mandatory migrant quota plan is a “national cause”, he said. Jobbik will not make a “big deal” out of whose amendment proposal would end up being approved by parliament, Vona said, adding that the important thing is that the amendment is adequate.

He confirmed that his party will participate in the parliamentary debates on the proposed amendment, but added that they would only be able to back it once they have read it. Vona said it was a “shame” that the leftist parties were “incapable of moving away from the wrong track” which he said would result in the settlement of migrants in Hungary.

Commenting on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s remarks from Tuesday, Vona said that instead of bringing about a new cross-party bloc which puts national sovereignty first, the referendum had created more divisions. Vona argued that although many Hungarians opposed migrant quotas, they still chose to sit out the referendum because they did not want to take part in “a party’s political campaign”.

The Jobbik leader called on the government not to try to make it look like those who had voted in the referendum were all Fidesz supporters. The prime minister is ready to have talks with heads of the parliamentary parties to achieve a constitutional amendment, Orbán’s press chief told MTI in response to Jobbik’s call.

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

MTI photo: Kovács Tamás