Election committee rejects Jobbik’s call for referendum over farmland ownership

Budapest, March 20 (MTI) – The National Election Committee refused on Thursday a proposal by the radical nationalist Jobbik party to hold a referendum on keeping farmland in Hungarian hands.

The committee said the question proposed for the referendum would impinge on an international agreement. The decision is not final and can be appealed at the Kuria, Hungary’s supreme court.

Jobbik leader Gabor Vona submitted the initiative in January. In the referendum, voters would be asked if they wished to see Hungary’s accession agreement with the European Union amended to allow farmland in Hungary to be exclusively owned by the state, Hungarian religious organisations or Hungarian private individuals residing in the country.

Head of the committee Andras Patyi and the majority of members said the question could not be authenticated because it affected the Treaty of Lisbon.

Others, including Jobbik delegate Andrea Borbely, argued that the aim of the initiative would be to urge the government and parliament to take action with the European Union. The referendum would provide an opportunity and a mandate for the government to negotiate, she said.

Photo: paksihirnok.hu

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters