Hungary MPs Block PM's Bid To Bar Refugee Resettlement

BUDAPEST, Nov 8 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 08th Nov, 2016 ) : Hungarian lawmakers on Tuesday blocked Prime Minister Viktor Orban's bid to change the constitution to bar the resettlement of refugees, after the radical right Jobbik party refused to support the bill.

While all 131 MPs of Orban's ruling right-wing coalition voted in favour, the bill failed to pick up an extra two votes to reach a required two-thirds majority.

The surprise rejection is a rare setback for the populist strongman who is used to getting his way since winning a supermajority in 2010 and reelection in 2014.

Observers said Tuesday's vote could set the scene for a growing power struggle between Fidesz and Jobbik ahead of the next scheduled general election in 2018. The anti-immigration Jobbik party had been a natural ally on the issue of barring large-scale resettlement of refugees, but laid a surprise ambush for Orban earlier this month.