No amendment likely to election law in connection with quota referendum

Budapest, August 8 (MTI) – No amendment to Hungary’s election law can be expected after talks were held on Monday among parliamentary parties at the initiative of patriotic Jobbik in connection with the form of voting at the Oct. 2 migrant quota referendum.

Under the election rules currently in place, 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, while ethnic Hungarians living beyond the border can vote by mail.

Jobbik called for five-party talks on a possible amendment to the election law allowing Hungarians working or studying abroad to vote in the referendum by mail. The party also initiated a special parliamentary session for August 18 to amend the law.

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/jobbik-initiates-special-parliament-session-amend-election-law/” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] JOBBIK INITIATES SPECIAL PARLIAMENT SESSION TO AMEND ELECTION LAW[/button]

The talks on Monday were attended by lawmakers of ruling Fidesz, Jobbik and opposition LMP. The allied ruling Christian Democrats and the opposition Socialists stayed away.

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/socialists-reject-jobbik-initiative-special-parlt-session/” type=”big” color=”red” newwindow=”yes”] SOCIALISTS REJECT JOBBIK INITIATIVE FOR SPECIAL PARLT SESSION[/button]

Fidesz group leader Lajos Kósa said after the meeting that the party rejects to support an amendment, arguing that the current election law is “coherent and has stood scrutiny by such international organisations as the European Court of Human Rights and the Venice Commission”.