Some members of the European People’s Party have formed an opinion regarding the CEU issue at variance to the government’s, and so the task is to provide correct information to them, in a calm and relaxed manner, Lázár said. He said the CEU had achieved a lot in several areas and had developed an intellectual hinterland.

Even so, they should not question parliament’s right to regulate the conditions under which a university operates, he added. Lázár said the Hungarian government opposes Soros’s views on migration, but this should not be conflated with the issue surrounding the higher education amendments.

The government’s problem is with Soros, but this “has nothing to do with” the Central European University, its students or professors, Lázár insisted.

What Soros has done over the past years in connection with illegal migration rubs up against Hungary’s national security interests, he said. “We cannot tolerate having someone bring migrants to our border and forcing our hand,” the government office chief said.

The government’s aim is to stop migration, “while Soros’s is to organise it”. He said having “Soros-affiliated organisations” sue Hungary in an effort to force it to open up its borders was “unacceptable”.

In response to a question about whether President János Áder would sign the law, he said it is the president’s right to decide that and “it would be improper for a minister to answer such a question”.

In connection with an article in The Times alleging that Hungary and Poland could be expelled from the EU, he said the report was not based on serious information but it was indicative in terms of the pressure that Hungary can expect in connection with migration.

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

MTI photo: Illyés Tibor