However, Budapest’s Fifth District elec-tion committee states that it is illegal to collect nominations in any workplace during working hours, including shops and places of recrea-tion. The National Election Committee (OVB) has confirmed this decree, but others dis-agree: the Forum thinks halting this way of collecting nomination forms is absurd and says this method has been normal since 1990 and that nobody has so far objected.

The Budapest Election Committee (FVB) said there is no evidence that any forms have actually been collected in the public places, and adds that the regulation only relates to those who work in public places, not to guests. According to the FVB, it is not illegal to go to a café to accept nomination forms.

The Politics Can Be Different party (LMP) calls the OVB stance shocking and illegiti-mate, and says it will not stop collecting nominations in public places, as in this way they do not have to disturb people in their homes. The LMP has also said it will go to court if any local election committee tries to halt the public collection of nominations.

Election expert Zoltán Tóth told Népszabadság that Parliament should have long ago done something about the nomination system, adding that now the courts will have to decide."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock.

This news item is one of many published daily by HATC, a premier subscription news service which distributes English-language info about Hungary via email or fax. For a free trial of HATC follow this link and click on 'Free Trial Subscription'.