A prominent member of the EU is calling for the ouster of Hungary because the country has refused to take any more refugees.
Jean Asselborn, Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, cites Hungary’s treatment of refugees and refusal to allow more migrants into the country as going against the “fundamental values” of the EU, saying in a Monday interview with De Welt, “Anyone who, like Hungary, builds fences against refugees from war … should be excluded temporarily, or if necessary for ever, from the EU,” Die Welt reports.
Asselborn continued, saying “Hungary is not far away from the firing order against refugees. Anyone who wants to overcome the fence must expect the worst.”
Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto responded promptly, accusing Asselborn of working “tirelessly on destroying European security and culture” and living “a sermonising, pompous and frustrated life.”
The Luxembourg minister’s comments come as Hungarian PM Viktor Orban recently called for even more border fencing and has emphasized Hungary “not needing” migrants. Activist groups have accused Hungary of mistreating refugees before, claims that Hungary strongly rejected.
Hungary has been against taking in refugees since mid-2015, and in response to the refugee crisis built extensive fencing and closed parts of its border. Hungary, initially made a pariah in Europe due to this hardline position, has been growing more influential. Next month, Hungary will hold a referendum on new EU quotas for migrants, energized by Eurosceptic populist movements across Europe like Brexit.
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