Hungary passes law allowing government use of army in refugee crisis

RT
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:37 UTC

© Dado Ruvic / Reuters

The Hungarian parliament has passed a law authorizing the government to deploy the military to help handle the asylum seeker crisis in the country, which includes powers to use non-lethal force. According to the law, the army would be allowed to use rubber bullets, pyrotechnical devices, tear gas grenades or net guns, the parliament's website said.

The legislation passed with 151 votes in the 199-member parliament, with 12 against and 27 abstentions. The ruling center right Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban was supported in the vote by radical nationalist Jobbik party, which previously sought even tougher measures.

Comment: Hungarian media highlights:

• "Europe is rich, but weak." - said Viktor Orban, Hungarian PM. He praised civilians providing food and care for the refugees. - "We need a stronger Europe that can protect its borders." [..] "We expect millions to come from the Middle East."
• While illegal border crossing is punishable by three years in prison in Hungary or by simply turning illegals back - , all the prisons are filled to 145%: there is no place in Hungarian jails. The only option remains is to quickly refuse the applications of asylum seekers and turn them back towards Serbia, because it is deemed a safe country.
• 19,000 refugees arrived during the weekend through the Croatian border. Most refugees arrive through Croatia now. They are being transported by train to the Austrian border, so they can continue towards Germany.
• 18,757 attempted to cross illegally and were caught by Hungarian police. Only 950 came through the Serbian border, which now has a barbed wire fence.
• Train traffic was halted from Croatia to Hungary.