At his press conference on Friday in Brussels, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that amendment of the Constitution will clarify the question of where each party stands, and whether they see this issue as a national cause.

At his press conference after a summit of the heads of state and government of the European Union’s Member States, the Prime Minister was asked whether he had formed a position on the opposition Jobbik party linking its support for amendment of the Constitution to the abolition of residency bonds.

Mr. Orbán said that the Government is asking every party to decide where it stands, and whether it regards this issue as a national cause or a party political question.

“The Government shall not yield to blackmail”, the Prime Minister said, stressing that he cannot envisage any kind of deal linking a purely economic issue with amendment of the Constitution.

Mr. Orbán stated, however, that Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga has already received authorisation to develop proposals for residency bonds in light of the fact that the Standard & Poor’s credit rating agency has upgraded Hungary’s credit rating. This is because the upgrade means that the Hungary now has better opportunities for government bond issuance.

The Government is awaiting the minister’s report, the Prime Minister said, but his decision will not be linked to Jobbik’s demand.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)