Speaking about the referendum on EU mandatory relocation quotas on the Wednesday morning programme on Hungarian television channel M1, Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács said that people cannot be left out of decisions on the issue, and national governments cannot be bypassed.

Mr. Kovács pointed out that, in order for the European Union to function well and effectively and for Europe to get stronger, people in all Member States should be listened to.

According to Mr. Kovács, Hungarians themselves – and not those in Brussels – should decide who they want to live with. The referendum will send a clear and unavoidable message both to the Government of Hungary as to what it must stand up for in this issue, and also to Brussels as to which direction it should take in eliminating the repercussions of the illegal migrant crisis.

He underlined that the proposal is still on the agenda in Brussels, which envisages forced relocation instead of stopping illegal migration at Europe’s borders. He added that the Government expects Hungarians to give a clear decision to end “stealth legislation” in the European Union.

In response to a question, Mr. Kovács said that it is silly to assume that the referendum could mean leaving the European Union.

(MTI)