referendum

November 06, 2009, 11:28 CET

Fidesz, Christian Democrats withdraw bill on Hungarian minorities

Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party and its Christian Democrat ally are withdrawing their bill which sought to ease rules on obtaining citizenship ethnic Hungarians resident abroad, Christian Democrat MP Istvan Simicsko told MTI on Friday. Simicsko explained the withdrawal, claiming... [read complete entry]

October 19, 2009, 09:32 CET

Fidesz submits motion to ease dual citizenship for ethnic Hungarians

The opposition has submitted a motion to Parliament to help ethnic Hungarians obtain Hungarian citizenship more easily. The motion submitted by Christian Democrats Zsolt Semjén and István Simicskó, as well as Fidesz MP Zsolt Németh, would abolish the pre-condition that... [read complete entry]

September 23, 2009, 09:44 CET

Election Committee gives okay for referendum on gender equality in voting

Hungary's National Election Committee (OVB) on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for the collection of signatures for a referendum initiative which seeks to ensure that election lists are composed of an equal number of men and women. Under the initiative, all... [read complete entry]

September 11, 2009, 11:14 CET

National Election Commission rejects bid for "SMS voting"

The National Election Commission (OVB) has dismissed five initiatives for referendums, including one about voting by text messages sent from mobile phones, writes origo.hu, based on an MTI report. The OVB ruled that voting by SMS would violate the secrecy... [read complete entry]

April 28, 2009, 08:33 CET

Parties divided over referendum on MP spending rules

Hungary's ruling Socialist Party will make every possible effort so that a referendum called on tightening parliamentary deputies' reimbursement rules should not take place at all while the opposition Fidesz party would hold it immoral and unlawful to prevent the... [read complete entry]

March 19, 2009, 08:43 CET

Referendum drive on MPs' expenses garners 525,000 signatures

At least 525,000 verified signatures have been collected, far more than the mandatory 200,000, in support of a referendum on MPs' expenses, National Election Office head Emília Rytkó announced on Wednesday.... [read complete entry]

July 03, 2008, 11:45 CET

Multi-insurer health care back on the cards

Despite the dismal failure of the last health insurance bill at the recent referendum, new health minister Tamás Székely has recommended more of the same with a proposal similar to the governments previous effort. [read complete entry]

June 03, 2008, 02:38 CET

Slovak Hungarians grieve for their backward cousins down under

While Hungarians in Hungary often tend to look with pity upon their ethnic kin in neighboring Slovakia, the ceaseless political crises in Hungary now seem to have left some of these "stranded" Magyars sounding like they feel equally sorry for... [read complete entry]

May 21, 2008, 09:41 CET

Election Commission chairman says new health care referendum not needed

Proponents of new vote on multi-payer insurance system have already collected enough signatures to force referendum. [read complete entry]

May 13, 2008, 01:51 CET

Nothing to show for the healthcare law except the bill

After the Socialist Party effectively withdrew the healthcare reform bill, the only thing it accomplished was the expenditure of money. [read complete entry]

May 09, 2008, 10:11 CET

Signature collection drive to dissolve Parliament can proceed

The National Election Commission has validated a signature collection sheet aiming to dissolve the Parliament. [read complete entry]

April 15, 2008, 09:43 CET

National Election Office to verify referendum signatures

The National Election Commission (OVB) on Monday ordered the National Election Office (OVI) to start verifying the signatures submitted in favour of a referendum against the privatisation of health insurance. Under a unanimous decision by the OVB, the OVI will... [read complete entry]

April 14, 2008, 10:31 CET

Doctors give government ultimatum

GPs say cabinet must address issue of revenues lost following referendum [read complete entry]

April 10, 2008, 11:51 CET

Referendum on health care unlikely to be held this year

Backers of a new referendum which seeks to prevent the influx of private capital into Hungary's state administered healthcare system plan to submit the signatures they gathered later this week. [read complete entry]

March 27, 2008, 10:10 CET

"Referendum Couple" to overcome linguistic difficulties in quest for vote

After the Albert couple (Albert házaspár) collected 400,000 signatures for the referendum on privatizing healthcare, it turned out that their question contained a mistake which means that even if the question passed, it would not affect government policy. Undeterred, the... [read complete entry]

March 25, 2008, 08:49 CET

Socialists threaten Liberals with new elections

Leaders of governing party hope to quieten partner with specter of ejection from parliament [read complete entry]

March 21, 2008, 09:51 CET

Conservative political scientists ponder the government's future

Visceral party sympathies were forgotten for a moment at the March 9 referendum, indicated by the fact that one million more people than the total who voted for Fidesz in 2006 voted to abolish nominal medical fees and tuition fees,... [read complete entry]

March 20, 2008, 12:20 CET

Free Democrat chairman threatens to leave governing coalition

Faced with Socialist Party fears of another referendum loss, the Free Democrats are threatening to leave the coalition if healthcare privatization does not more forward. [read complete entry]

March 20, 2008, 10:42 CET

Gyurcsány and Orbán make conciliatory gestures, albeit not to each other

Both party chairman, in contrast to previous stands, gave more inclusive speeches last Saturday, although this did not exist when it came to each other. [read complete entry]

March 18, 2008, 10:14 CET

Semantic problems anticipated in fall health care referendum

As the opposition prepares for a new referendum, the government has muddied the argument by claiming the wording of the question means it will have no effect on policy. [read complete entry]

March 18, 2008, 10:11 CET

Socialists continue demands for Free Dems to sack Horn

Socialist Party members have continued their demands that the Free Democrats sack Gábor Horn, who was caught on camera saying the people told the prime minister to "f_ck off." [read complete entry]

March 18, 2008, 09:32 CET

Parliament abolishes unpopular medical and tuition fees

Parliament voted Monday to abolish nominal medical fees and to ban tuition fees, as required by the outcome of the March 9 referendum. Accordingly, the two kinds of medical fees will be phased out from April 1, and tuition fees... [read complete entry]

March 13, 2008, 09:21 CET

Orbán vows to scrap multi-player health insurance if elected

Viktor Orbán has made it clear that if Fidesz is reelected in 2010, then they will undo the reforms currently being enacted by the government, citing overwhelming support in the referendum as proof Hungarians don't want health care changed. [read complete entry]

March 12, 2008, 09:45 CET

MPs debate referendum fallout as Orbán promises "open arms" approach

As the fallout from Sunday's crushing referendum defeat for the government continues, opposition leader Viktor Orbán has pledged to continue a less combative strategy towards the government to keep the new voters attracted by the referendum. [read complete entry]

March 11, 2008, 10:50 CET

Socialist MPs rocked by scale of referendum defeat

Socialist MPs were shocked by the result of Sunday’s referendum, particularly by the high turnout, both Magyar Hírlap and Népszabadság report today. Some leading party politicians are already speaking about the last days of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, according to... [read complete entry]

March 11, 2008, 09:59 CET

Health ministry flip-flops on hospital safes, opposition suspects conflict of interests

Following the referendum landslide that will reverse some of the reforms introduced by the government last year, the health ministry is coming under fresh attacks from the opposition over its program to install safes next to every hospital bed. The... [read complete entry]

March 11, 2008, 09:49 CET

Referendum deadlock in Baranya County

While Sunday's referendum passed nationally by a wide margin, the scene was different in the Baranya County settlement of Szárász, which now has the distinction of being the only voting group in Hungary split exactly evenly on the question of... [read complete entry]

March 11, 2008, 09:18 CET

Horn in hot water over colorful assessment of referendum result

Several Socialist politicians on Monday demanded the resignation of coalition state secretary Free Democrat Gábor Horn after he was filmed making a crude remark about Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány and the outcome of Sunday's referendum.... [read complete entry]

March 10, 2008, 11:56 CET

Voters deal blow to government in anti-austerity referendum landslide

Hungary's governing Socialist-Liberal coalition was dealt a sharp blow yesterday with the passage by overwhelming margins of three referendum questions aimed at rolling back elements of the government's reform program. [read complete entry]

March 10, 2008, 09:21 CET

Hundreds take to streets, demanding government resign

Some 500 people converged on Vértanuk tere after the referendum ended Sunday evening to call for the resignation of the government. Nearby Kossuth tér was completely sealed off by police early Sunday. Some 2,000 riot police were nearby to contain... [read complete entry]

March 07, 2008, 11:54 CET

Referendum to result in decisive "yes" for indecision

Despite the hype about Sunday's vote on the government's reform package, even an unexpected outcome will not lead to any fireworks, economic or political. [read complete entry]

March 07, 2008, 10:26 CET

Fidesz representive allegedly beaten by Szombathely deputy mayor's brother

A local Fidesz representative was beaten while putting up posters in Szombathely late Thursday evening, reports Híradó.hu.... [read complete entry]

March 07, 2008, 09:51 CET

Speaker bans media from Hungarian Parliament on referendum day

Speaker Katalin Szili yesterday barred journalists from entering the House on Sunday. Meanwhile, Democratic Forum chairwoman Ibolya Dávid said Forum MPs will be attending on Sunday to protest the referendum being used for political ends and “two individuals’ struggle for... [read complete entry]

March 06, 2008, 10:10 CET

Orbán canvasses disabled and blind for referendum votes

"A successful nation cannot be built solely on rich and healthy people, it must not forget about those who are neither," Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán said in a statement to the media after meeting physically handicapped people in Szekszárd, south... [read complete entry]

March 05, 2008, 01:56 CET

Szonda Ipsos poll suggests success for Sunday referendum

While the "yeas" are widely expected to carry the day, questions linger over whether turnout will be high enough to make the results binding. [read complete entry]

March 05, 2008, 09:26 CET

Misleading referendum campaign uses 2006 posters to encourage "yes" votes

Socialist posters made for the 2006 parliamentary elections and thus based on "affirmative" votes appeared in Miskolc on Tuesday. In Balassagyarmat, north Hungary, a car with a public address system was heard driving around the town playing the Socialists' 2006... [read complete entry]

March 04, 2008, 12:40 CET

Postal worker destroys 1400 referendum notices

A postal worker in Kecskemét has been sacked after admitting to burning 1400 referendum notices, conservative daily Magyar Nemzet reports. According to the piece, the postal worker, who had only been working for the postal service for month, said his... [read complete entry]

March 04, 2008, 11:48 CET

Buying votes in the Roma community a part of every election

An investigation by Index.hu reveals how vote buying among the Roma community in northeastern Hungary is a regular part of elections, and how both major parties participate in it. [read complete entry]

March 03, 2008, 01:23 CET

Prime Minister believes apathy is a show of support

When presented with the question of how in the referendum, Free Dem supporters would vote "no" while Socialist supporters would stay home, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány told tabloid Blikk that staying home is just another way of voting "no" and... [read complete entry]

February 25, 2008, 10:41 CET

Fidesz breaks election law in Gyula by wearing provocative T-shirts

Members of the Fidesz opposition party broke election law by wearing provocative T-shirts at a session of the Gyula government on February 14, writes news portal Hír3, based on a report by state news wire MTI. After the offense, Sándor... [read complete entry]

February 25, 2008, 09:47 CET

Police investigate alleged vote-buying by Socialists

Police launch investigation of Socialist Party suspected of vote-buying, Socialists refute the charges as provocation by political opponents. [read complete entry]

February 22, 2008, 03:37 CET

Free Democrats reported to police for using totalitarian symbols

A private citizen walked into the Budapest Police on Thursday and filed a complaint that the Free Democrats are using a symbol of totalitarianism in their anti-referendum campaign, an MTI report at Index.hu states. The ad campaign calls the referendum... [read complete entry]

February 22, 2008, 09:40 CET

Orbán stresses need for public property

Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán yesterday encouraged Debrecen university to turn out and vote against tuition fees at the March 9 referendum. “The re-launch of economic growth is a top priority, as Hungary is lagging far behind. Work, knowledge and responsible... [read complete entry]

February 21, 2008, 04:46 CET

Free Democrat referendum advertisment is grossing us out

While the message is obvious, that the Fidesz-led referendum is brainwashing, and the brain in the video quite fake, it's still gross, and not something you want to see when you're trying to eat.... [read complete entry]

February 21, 2008, 10:16 CET

Gyurcsány to join Socialist Party referendum campaign today

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány will join the Socialist Party's referendum campaign in Kaposvár and at two other provincial forums today, deputy party chairman Ferenc Juhász told Népszabadság on Wednesday. Other sources said the Socialist Party will on March 1 hold... [read complete entry]

February 19, 2008, 01:26 CET

Gyurcsány's big speech: The political realities

In his address to the Hungarian parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány heralded in an era of "new politics" dedicated to job creation, education and "ownership," promising tax cuts in 2009 and share offerings in Hungary's few remaining state-run companies. Critics immediately dismissed the speech as a populist attempt to divert attention from the upcoming referendum. [read complete entry]

February 15, 2008, 10:21 CET

Fidesz launches referendum billboard campaign

Fidesz referendum campaign leader István Tarlós unveiled his party’s billboards on Thursday carrying the message “The Future Starts with a Yes” Tarlós told reporters that the coalition parties had refused to accept a Fidesz proposal that none of them display... [read complete entry]

February 12, 2008, 09:41 CET

Parliament passes bill on multi-player health insurance, again

The government's controversial health bill has been passed for a second time despite protests and opposition indignation, and this time President László Sólyom can't send it back for review. [read complete entry]

February 08, 2008, 10:01 CET

Education Minister and Fidesz Spokesman clash over tuition fees

Education and cultural minister and Fidesz spokesman at odds over how educational fees should be collected and spent. [read complete entry]

February 06, 2008, 02:18 CET

Obama Taking Election Tips From Fidesz

It's not just Barack Obama's "peachy" first name that looks suspiciously Hungarian, his election campaign logo also bears a remarkable similarity to Fidesz's current referendum campaign graphic. The alleged breach of copyright was spotted by the sharp-eyed folks at Index's... [read complete entry]

February 04, 2008, 09:52 CET

Fidesz to challenge gov't at National Election Commission

Opposition claims government is violating the Constitution by campaigning for "no" votes in upcoming referendum. [read complete entry]

February 01, 2008, 09:03 CET

MSZP member admits party cannot win referendum, hopes for low voter turn-out

Vice chairman of MSZP and coordinator of its referendum campaign Ferenc Juhász has conceded that the Socialists have no hope of winning the March 9 referendum [read complete entry]

January 30, 2008, 10:09 CET

Fidesz calls on gov't to stop referendum drive

Fidesz deputy spokesman András Cser-Palkovics on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány to halt the government's referendum campaign from public funds after the release of the second edition of the publication Új Magyarország (New Hungary). The deputy spokesman said... [read complete entry]

January 30, 2008, 10:03 CET

Fidesz to step up referendum campaign from Feb 17

Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán plans to see the party campaign promoting the March 9 referendum go into full speed on February 17 which, Orbán put it "will be the day when the campaign turns sharp." Fidesz officials told Népszabadság on... [read complete entry]

January 28, 2008, 09:51 CET

Gyurcsány downplays tuition, visiting fees

"Neither tuition nor visiting fees are an essential element of the reforms, and thus the upcoming referendum will have no major influence on my governing," Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány said in an interview with Friday's issue of the Swiss conservative... [read complete entry]

January 25, 2008, 10:58 CET

Referendum date and televised debate catch Fidesz by surprise

The announcement of the referendum for March 9 caught Fidesz by surprise, which was expecting an April date for the vote, writes left-wing daily Népszava. Furthermore, earlier rumors of a televised debate between Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán and Prime Minister... [read complete entry]

January 25, 2008, 09:32 CET

Voter turnout on referendum predicted at 48%

The majority of those planning to vote in the March 9 referendum would cast their ballot in favour of banning tuition, visiting and daily hospital fees, a Szonda-Ipsos poll commissioned by MTV reveals.... [read complete entry]

January 25, 2008, 09:30 CET

Fidesz and Socialists deliver contradictory explanations on referendum

Fidesz and Socialist politicians were completely at odds over what is at stake in the upcoming referendum on banning tuition, visiting and daily hospital fees when they engaged in a debate on MTV's "Nap-kelte" talk show Thursday morning.... [read complete entry]

January 24, 2008, 09:41 CET

Sólyom sets March 9 as national referendum date

President László Sólyom on Wednesday set the date for the Fidesz-Christian Democrat-initiated referendum on banning tuition, visiting and daily hospital fees for Sunday, March 9. His office said the president had opted for the early date as he does not... [read complete entry]

January 23, 2008, 09:12 CET

Constitutional Court clears way for Fidesz referendum

The Constitutional Court on Tuesday rejected individual-submitted objections to the December 17 parliamentary resolution ordering a Fidesz-Christian Democrat initiated referendum on banning visit, daily hospital and tuition fees, thus removing the referendum's final obstacle.... [read complete entry]

January 22, 2008, 09:49 CET

Democratic Forum urges Fidesz to ditch Tarlós

The Democratic Forum urged Fidesz to remove István Tarlós from his current post as referendum campaign leader yesterday.... [read complete entry]

January 22, 2008, 09:46 CET

Gyurcsány's chief of staff quits post "for family reasons"

Media speculators believe a rift between under-fire Zoltán J. Gál and the Prime Minister is the real reason for his resignation. [read complete entry]

January 21, 2008, 10:01 CET

Fidesz: Gov't to spend Ft 1bn on referendum campaign

Fidesz states that the government's spending campaign against the referendum is proof that they fear it. [read complete entry]

January 21, 2008, 09:59 CET

Socialists begin advertising against referendum in dailies

The Socialist Party began its referendum drive by publishing full-page advertisements in Népszabadság and Népszava on Friday.... [read complete entry]

January 18, 2008, 09:30 CET

Socialist Party starts referendum campaign

The Socialist Party will kick off its referendum campaign today with a view to reducing the number of Yes votes in the referendum on abolishing medical and tuition fees, deputy chairman Ferenc Juhász announced on Thursday. Juhász said about Ft... [read complete entry]

January 17, 2008, 11:35 CET

State President expected to set referendum date in February

A date for a referendum on the government's reforms may be decided as early as next month if the Constitution Court (AB) can investigate related complaints by the beginning of February, writes Magyar Nemzet. On Tuesday, the AB said that... [read complete entry]

January 15, 2008, 09:52 CET

Doctors collect signatures against health care reform

The Party of Unity for the Health of our Nation, better known as the doctors party, is already collecting signatures ahead of an eventual referendum on a multi-player health insurance system. Several unions have vowed to press ahead with the... [read complete entry]

January 10, 2008, 12:00 CET

Referendum Committee kept busy by dumb questions

The National Referendum Committee (OVB) has rejected dozens of referendum submissions after finding most of them to be flippant, writes Hírszerző.hu. One of the most off-beam requests was for a vote on the chicken-and-egg debate, while others proposed television celebrities... [read complete entry]

December 20, 2007, 11:05 CET

New poll shows disintegration of voter engagement

Survey finds early election could end in Fidesz "non-victory" due to low turnout, ejection of Liberals and MDF from Parliament [read complete entry]

December 14, 2007, 09:24 CET

Gyurcsány to assess year at closed meeting on Saturday

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány will seek to bolster inter-party confidence at meeting over the weekend. [read complete entry]

December 14, 2007, 09:16 CET

Government fears referendum, opposition claims

Fidesz has "no doubts whatever" that the Socialist Party or the cabinet will challenge in the Constitutional Court Parliament's resolution, expected Monday, on a referendum on nominal medical fees and fees for post-secondary schooling, caucus director Róbert Répássy said Thursday.... [read complete entry]

December 10, 2007, 09:38 CET

Fidesz claims election official willfully delayed referendum

Fidesz will initiate a hearing by Parliament's constitutional committee of Emília Rytkó, head of the National Election Office (OVI) this week as it believes the body has wilfully delayed the referendum process. "The OVI has abused the patience of ordinary... [read complete entry]

November 20, 2007, 11:43 CET

Opposition leader predicts political changes within a year

Opposition leader and Fidesz Chairman Viktor Orbán predicted that Hungary would see great political changes within three-quarters of a year, prior to the next elections, wrote left-leaning daily Népszabadság.... [read complete entry]

November 20, 2007, 11:11 CET

Socialist MP would end visit fee and hospital day fee

From January, the Socialist party would end the doctor's visit fee and hospital day fee, according to a proposal by Socialist MP Károly Tóth, writes conservative daily Magyar Nemzet based off a report from HírTV. Tóth reasoning behind his proposal... [read complete entry]

November 19, 2007, 12:59 CET

Government suggests modifying electoral laws

The government has put forward a list of suggested proposals to modify the current electoral law to close a loophole that allows people to vote more than once, and also to modify laws with respect to referendums. [read complete entry]

November 16, 2007, 06:57 CET

Fidesz continues to collect signatures just to rub it in

Although they've long surpassed the required number of signatures to hold a referendum on the visit fee, hospital day fee and tuition, Fidesz has now collected over a million signatures, referendum chief István Tarlós announced, wrote daily Magyar Nemzet. Although... [read complete entry]