Opposition Support For Hungary Iraq Mission Extension Uncertain

  • 24 May 2017 8:40 AM
Opposition Support For Hungary Iraq Mission Extension Uncertain
It is still uncertain if the government’s proposal for extending Hungary’s mission in Iraq will get sufficient support from the opposition in parliament, Lajos Kósa, head of parliament’s defence and law enforcement committee, said.

In a closed session, the committee heard reports by Defence Minister István Simicskó, Chief of Staff Tibor Benkő, military security service chief József Kovács and foreign state secretary Levente Magyar on Hungary’s role in international efforts against the Islamic State terrorist organisation.

The opposition is divided over the issue, Kósa said. The radical nationalist Jobbik will reject the proposal but support from other opposition lawmakers may secure the required two-thirds majority in the June 13 vote, he said.

Under a parliamentary resolution approved in April 2015, the Hungarian Armed Forces sent a contingent of up to 150 soldiers - or 300 during the replacement period - to the training centre in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The mission got a mandate until December 31, 2017.

In late April this year the government submitted a proposal for extending the mission by two years and increasing its staff and powers. If the motion clears parliament, Hungary will station 200 soldiers - or 400 during the replacement period - in Iraq.

Kósa said that the mission had so far cost an annual 6.5 billion forints (EUR 21m). If the extension gets approved, this sum is expected to increase by another 3.2 billion, he said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Kovács Attila

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