DK complains to OLAF about referendum campaign leaflets

Budapest, September 28 (MTI) – The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has contacted the European Commission’s anti-fraud office (OLAF) to complain about leaflets “blackmailing” local residents to vote ‘no’ at the referendum on European Union migrant quotas by suggesting that otherwise the government would take away EU funding from their locality.

This “threat” came from the mayor of Győrújfalu, in northwest Hungary, László Varjú, DK’s deputy leader told a press conference on Wednesday, citing a report by online news portal 444.hu.

“It is hard to know whether this reflects desperation or political motives but it is shocking that the government wants to distribute EU development funds on the basis of loyalty to [ruling] Fidesz,” Varjú said. DK will investigate every “cash handout by Fidesz” in Hungary, he said, calling on voters “not to give in to Fidesz blackmail and threats” and stay away from the “sham referendum”.

Fidesz said in response that DK was promoting Brussels’ interests, “which is no surprise considering that the anti-Hungarian and anti-referendum campaign of Ferenc Gyurcsány’s party was financed by Brussels”. Their purpose is to thwart the Hungarian referendum and enable the “forced settlement” of migrants, the statement said. “DK has even admitted” that its posters are financed from their MEPs’ expense allocations and they show the logo of the European Parliament’s group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats on the posters, the statement said.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI