Antal Rogán, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, gave an interview Sunday morning to state-run Kossuth Radio. Speaking about the impact of the terrorist attack in Nice, he warned Hungarians about travelling to western European countries with significant immigrant populations, as he believes that the integration of immigrants has failed and therefore the risk of terrorism is high.

“Europe has to accept the fact that illegal immigration and growing immigration rates go hand in hand with a heightened risk of terrorism. The more immigrants that arrive in Europe, the greater the risk of terrorism,” declared Mr. Rogán, adding:

“Naturally, first and foremost now is the time to express our condolences and our shock. But secondly, people in Brussels should consider stopping immigration to Europe. The current, official European refugee policy must be radically changed, because it encourages immigration, rather than aims to stop it.”

Hungary is preparing for its anti-migrant and anti-EU referendum on October 2nd. The government is asking Hungarians to reject refugee settlement quotas set jointly at the EU level for member states. Maintaining a heightened sense of urgency and alarm in Hungary is essential, if the Orbán government is to ensure turn-out of at least 50%. (Most opposition parties are calling on supporters to boycott the referendum.)

As such, Mr. Rogán warned Kossuth radio’s listeners about the risk of travelling to western Europe.

“The Government of Hungary is asking Hungarians who are travelling abroad during the summer months, to take all warnings seriously…In those countries where the proportion of immigrants is high, the risk of terrorism has, indeed, increased,” warned Mr. Rogán.

The Orbán government’s overt fear-mongering against all immigrants and against culturally diverse societies is part of a communication strategy and a dichotomy that they have set up, with immigrant-free, racially “pure” and therefore safe Central Europe against multicultural and therefore dangerous Western Europe. When I was in Budapest in June, I must have overheard at least two dozen conversations whilst sitting in cafés or riding public transit, often from young, seemingly well-educated Hungarians, about how they feel “out of place” whenever they travel to diverse western European cities.

The sad irony with all of this is that Mr. Rogán has been playing an important role in preparation for the 60th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, when 200,000 refugees from Hungary, some armed as they entered into Austria, flooded into the West, making cities where they settled more culturally diverse.