BUDAPEST, Hungary – Hungarian lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday granting the government extended powers, including the possibility of deploying the armed forces in case of terror acts or threats.

The amendment was approved by a 153-13 vote with one abstention by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, his Christian Democratic allies and support from the far-right opposition Jobbik party. It would allow the government to declare a “terrorism state of emergency” — a new legal concept added to the Basic Law, as the constitution is now called.

It grants the government the ability to introduce extraordinary measures for up to 15 days before needing confirmation from a two-thirds majority in parliament.

The government said the amendment taking effect July 1 was needed to prevent and handle the “new type of security challenges” facing Europe.

Opposition parties have criticized the sixth amendment to the Basic Law since its adoption in 2012, saying that, along with other amendments sought by the authorities, will give the government unfettered control over everything from the internet to postal services while allowing curfews and restrictions on public events.

Socialist Party President Jozsef Tobias said the amendment was really about “the government’s ambitions of power.”

Amnesty International has called the proposal “an open attack on human rights.” It says the law gives the government sweeping powers without clearly defining what a terror threat was and could lead to stifling either protests or differing political opinions.