Hungary's Constitutional Shift: Budapest Fidesz Proposal to Strip Dual Citizens of Passports
Budapest to Revoke Passports for Citizens Holding Dual Nationality
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In a radical move aimed at tackling perceived foreign influence, Budapest's rulers have proposed a constitutional amendment to withdraw Hungarian passports from dual citizens. As reported by AFP on Wednesday, the published draft on the parliament's website suggests that "a Hungarian citizen holding another passport could face a temporary Citizenship suspension."
Those stripped of their Hungarian citizenship are at risk of being removed from Hungarian territory, yet an exception applies to EU passport holders. The proposed changes could become effective on April 15 if approved by parliament.
The Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, believes this measure is necessary to combat citizens who allegedly pose a threat to national and public security.
In both recent years and past election periods, foreign powers and financial manipulators, allegedly disguised as NGOs and "so-called independent media entities," have allegedly meddled in Hungary's internal affairs and electoral procedures, according to the parliamentary faction leader, Mate Kocsis, who posted his concerns on Facebook.
Orban has expressed an intention to eliminate from Hungary's cultural landscape the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) based in Budapest, which receive funds and operate locally on behalf of "liberal networks."
Source: ntv.de, AFP
Enrichment Data:
- It should be noted that Hungary is not alone in taking such measures. Similar strategies have been implemented in various countries to safeguard their national interests and combat foreign interference.
- Orban's Fidesz party and his government have been under international scrutiny for their approach to media freedom, civil society, and democracy as a whole. Critics claim that they have employed authoritarian tactics to consolidate political power.
- However, Orban's leadership and policies remain supported by a substantial portion of Hungary's population due to his tough stance on immigration, EU integration, and strong economic growth.
- The move to strip dual citizens of their Hungarian passports adds to a series of controversial decisions by the Hungarian government concerning immigration and foreign influence. For example, a controversial advertisement campaign featured posters depicting migrants with violent and dangerous messages, fueling anti-immigrant sentiment among the Hungarian populace.
- The community policy proposed by Budapest's Fidesz party includes an amendment for the withdrawal of Hungarian passports from individuals who hold dual citizenship as a measure to tackle foreign influence and perceived threats to national security.
- Hungarian citizens holding another passport could face a temporary suspension of their citizenship under a proposed vocational training program aimed at safeguarding the country's territorial integrity and national interests.
- The withdrawn passports would likely impact Hungarian-Hungarian relations, particularly for those dual citizens residing within the EU, as an exception has been made for EU passport holders in the proposed constitutional amendment.
