"An alleged case of vote-buying in Nyírség became a police matter at the weekend. A HírTV reporter posing as Finance Minister János Veres’ campaign chief Viktor Tóth was on Friday told over the telephone by Nyírlugos village Roma authority leader Lajos Balogh that the Roma would not turn out for the March 9 referendum unless they receive payment.A second conversation also aired on HírTV Friday featured a Roma leader from Nyírmihályd asking the real Tóth if they can count on remuneration from the Socialist party in return for votes, and the campaign leader said they will discuss the matter at a later date.
Tóth filed a complaint at the police station later that day. He admitted that it was he on one of the recordings, but said he had not been called by Balogh but by Nyírbogát Fidesz mayor Miklós Simon’s campaign leader László Tejfel. Simon later said Tejfel is chairman of the local minority authority and had never been his campaign leader. Tejfel could not be reached for comment.
Veres said this was a case of provocation committed by his political opponents.
HírTV reported the case to the police, who launched an enquiry in Szabolcs county on suspicion of vote-buying. The reporter said HírTV was checking the substance of reports earlier sent to their editorial office that suggested the Socialist Party is offering remuneration for local Roma to stay at home on March 9.
Fidesz MP István Balsai said his party suspects vote-buying and expects the prosecutor’s office to provide clear answers, adding that “this confirms the suspicion that votes were bought in 2006, and that such a solution is not far from the Socialists.”
Source: Hungary Around the Clock.
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25.02.2008