Kúria turns down DK appeal concerning higher education law and okays rejection of LMP’s Paks referendum

Hungary’s supreme court, the Kúria, on Tuesday turned down an appeal by the leftist opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) against the National Election Committee’s (NVB) decision to reject the party’s referendum initiative in connection with the higher education law affecting the Central European University (CEU).

DK’s referendum question, submitted on April 5 and rejected by the NVB later in April, said: “Do you agree that a higher education institution recognised by a state party to the agreement of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) should continue to undertake educational activity towards foreign degrees based on their registration in Hungary?”

In its Tuesday ruling, the Kúria said that DK’s appeal was “unfounded”, while DK’s referendum question was not clear enough.

The ruling cannot be appealed.

Kúria okays rejection of LMP’s Paks referendum

The Kúria, Hungary’s supreme court, on Tuesday upheld a decision by the National Election Committee, under which the opposition LMP party cannot initiate a referendum concerning the upgrade of the Paks nuclear plant.

The Kúria referred to the constitution and said in its binding decision that questions affecting international agreements cannot be put to a plebiscite.

Through its referendum initiative, LMP sought public support to thwarting the Paks project unless at least one third of Hungary’s energy production, including the planned two new blocks at Paks, would be ensured through using renewable energies.

Source: MTI