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.