Jobbik to convene congress over Audit Office fine

Right-wing opposition Jobbik will convene an emergency congress to discuss the situation in light of fines levied on the party by the State Audit Office (ASZ) for violating campaign financing rules in last spring’s general election, the leader of the party said on Friday.

Paying the close to one billion forint fine levied by ASZ altogether will practically prevent the party from running a campaign in the European parliamentary elections to be held this May, Tamás Sneider told a press conference.

The congress to be called within the next 2-4 weeks will discuss two key issues, with one being “the possibility of dismantling the party overall”, which Sneider said would ultimately lead to dissolving the party’s parliamentary group.

The other item on the agenda, he added, would be “discussing the continuation of Jobbik’s national resistance”.

“Those who rule the country today are punishing Jobbik because they fear that, according to the polls, the party could have up to four MEPs elected to serve in Brussels,” he said.

The aim of the fine is “to eliminate” the party, Sneider said, adding that Jobbik would not give up its fight for survival.

Jobbik’s board will decide about the date of the congress at its meeting on Monday.

ASZ in response rejected “accusations made by Jobbik and the political pressure exerted by the party to influence the authority in carrying out its financial audit as required by law”. In a statement, ASZ called on the party leader to acknowledge the irregularities its audit revealed instead of “making false statements about the authority and misleading the public”.

Feaured image: www.facebook.com/JobbikMagyarorszagertMozgalom

Source: MTI