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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán giving a speech in Budapest
Photo: BERNADETT SZABO / REUTERS
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wants to ban any kind of immigration for two years.
"Migrant armies are banging on all the doors of Europe," said the right-wing politician on the state radio on Friday.
Migration is particularly dangerous in times of the corona pandemic, which is why he suggests "that no migration is allowed for two years," he added.
Migration is inherently bad, and people should be happy where they were born "as a result of God's destiny".
Orbán did not go into detail on how a two-year "migration ban" should be regulated by law.
The right-wing government of Orbán has been taking a tough line against those seeking protection for years - and is in dispute with the European Union (EU) over this.
In December last year, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared parts of the Hungarian asylum legislation to be illegal.
These grant people seeking protection practically no access to the asylum procedure, which is contrary to EU law.
In autumn 2015, Orbán had a barbed wire reinforced fence built on the borders with Serbia and Croatia to ward off refugees and migrants.
He uses laws to restrict the rights of asylum seekers.
»Migration ban« could also affect skilled workers
According to the Central Statistical Office (KSH), around 194,000 foreigners with legal residence permits were living in the EU country Hungary at the beginning of this year.
Among them were more than 57,000 EU citizens, around 32,000 Ukrainians, 18,000 Chinese and 35,000 other Asians.
Strictly speaking, the "migration ban" sought by Orbán would mean that any influx of foreign skilled workers, entrepreneurs and family members would be prevented.
It would probably not apply to EU citizens because freedom of movement within the EU is guaranteed.
mrc / dpa
