Politics

The idea of an Orban lieutenant to provide migrants with a one-way ticket by bus to Brussels is sending ripples of anger through the European Commission as well as the Belgian and Brussels institutions.

A press conference by Hungarian Secretary of State Bence Rétvàri ignited the powder keg. Inspired by the threats of his Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he posed in front of buses announcing a one-way ticket from "Röszke” to “Brüsszel", connecting the migrant crossing point between Serbia and Hungary with the capital of Europe. He promised to offer migrants a one-way ticket to Brussels.

Public outcry

The indignation is palpable on the side of the Belgian and Brussels authorities. The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor, is not willing to accept the passage of this "instrumentalized" convoy. The mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, has asked the Belgian government to block buses at the border. On the European side, Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said she was "outraged" by this "unacceptable" threat to the European institutions. Contacts have been made with Hungary to prevent the coaches from leaving.

(Olivier Duquesne/ML – Source : Le Soir avec Belga & RTBF – Picture : © European Union, 2022 - Bogdan Hoyaux)