Péter Magyar Vows No Illegal Immigrants, Slams Hard-Right Snub
Hungary's new Prime Minister Péter Magyar says his government will refuse to accept illegal migrants under EU redistribution schemes or pay fines, echoing his predecessor's hardline stance.
According to Brussels Signal, Magyar made the comments during an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Wednesday, where he outlined his firm opposition to key provisions of the EU’s new Migration and Asylum Pact.
The Hungarian leader stated his country will reject mandatory asylum procedures at external borders scheduled to begin on June 12, adopting a hardline position that mirrors the approach taken by his predecessor, Viktor Orbán—a stance that previously placed Hungary at odds with EU authorities.
No Illegal Migrants, No Fines
Magyar was explicit in his refusal to comply with the bloc’s migration mandates. Hungary will not accept any migrants lacking legal residence rights, and the government has no intention of paying the penalties Brussels seeks to impose for non-compliance, he explained.
The prime minister acknowledged that Orbán had been correct regarding migration policy in 2015, particularly on the necessity of robust border enforcement, though he faulted the former leader for not cultivating stronger European alliances.
Many EU member states have since recognized their earlier decisions on migration were mistaken, Magyar noted, adding that Hungary will continue to defend both its national borders and Europe’s external frontiers.
He emphasized that the 2015 migration crisis should serve as a lesson for Europe, arguing that protecting citizens’ security remains the paramount duty of European politicians. Magyar insisted there are methods to halt illegal migration without violating EU regulations, provided leaders possess adequate negotiating skills.
Unequal Treatment
The Hungarian prime minister pointed to what he views as discriminatory enforcement by Brussels, noting that several countries now follow policies similar to Hungary’s approach, yet the European Court of Justice has not levied comparable fines against them.
Hungary currently faces daily penalties of €1 million for refusing to comply with EU asylum regulations, a tab that has surpassed €700 million in total.
Magyar’s position represents the first substantial break with Brussels since his landslide electoral victory. While he has moved swiftly to secure previously frozen EU funding by pledging judicial and anti-corruption reforms, he is drawing a firm line on migration and mandatory redistribution schemes.
This posture threatens to put the new government on a collision course with the European Commission, which has thus far shown leniency toward Magyar in hopes of cultivating a more cooperative relationship with Budapest.
Criticism of Political Firewalls
Magyar also took aim at establishment parties’ practice of building so-called firewalls or cordons sanitaires against parties they label as far-right, arguing such exclusionary tactics only strengthen the very forces they seek to marginalize.
Rejecting ideological categorizations and what he described as politically correct rhetoric, the prime minister stated he dislikes pigeonholing groups as right-wing or left-wing extremists.
Without wishing to interfere in other nations’ internal affairs—a practice he attributed to Orbán—Magyar observed that some countries make errors in their treatment of parties deemed extreme.
Politicians in many nations fail to demonstrate honesty, he argued. They refuse to acknowledge citizens’ fears and expectations, avoid openly discussing problems, rely on politically correct language, and ultimately lose touch with reality itself.
These failures are then exploited by certain political forces, Magyar explained. Simply excluding such parties and isolating them behind a firewall is no solution, as the strategy only amplifies their strength. While some countries have recognized these mistakes, others have not.
The Hungarian leader charged that political, media, and economic elites in numerous countries prioritize protecting their own positions over addressing genuine public concerns. Citizens do not forget such failures, he warned, emphasizing the need for repeated honesty from leaders.
Magyar described the European Conservatives and Reformists group as the natural ally of the European People’s Party, signaling his government’s preferred coalition orientation within EU institutions.
With information from Brussels Signal
