Jobbik: Parliament session on election law thwarted

Budapest, August 18 (MTI) – The Jobbik party has initiated an extraordinary session of parliament in order to vote on its proposal to amend Hungary’s election law. But the ruling Fidesz party and their Christian Democrat ally have signalled they will not attend, so a vote on the issue cannot go ahead in the session scheduled for Monday, Jobbik lawmaker István Szávay said.

Speaking after a meeting of the house committee, Szávay said the current election law differentiates between voters. This is discriminatory and wrong in a country based on the rule of law, he said.

Ethnic Hungarians living beyond the border can vote by mail while Hungarians who have a permanent address in the country but are abroad on the day of an election or referendum can only vote at a Hungarian embassy or consular office near them, he complained.

Dóra Dúró, Jobbik’s deputy group leader, said the government should strengthen ties between Hungarians working in western Europe and their homeland but the current election system encourages people to give up having a permanent address in Hungary.

Fidesz group leader Lajos Kósa told a press conference that it was cause for concern that the opposition party was trying to amend the rules for a referendum whose date has already been set. The opposition is neglecting all democratic norms and customs, he insisted. If Jobbik’s proposal were approved, the October referendum would not be possible to carry out because there would not be enough time to register all Hungarians working abroad, he added.

Source: MTI