OVB Rejects Hungarian Socialist Referendum Drive

  • 16 Nov 2010 1:00 AM
OVB Rejects Hungarian  Socialist Referendum Drive
"The National Election Commission (OVB) on Monday refused to give the green light to a referendum initiative launched by the Socialist Party regarding private pension funds, and to a popular initiative regarding the next Constitution.

The OVB did not approve the potential referendum questions submitted by the party, on the grounds that they are not unequivocal. The rulings are open to appeal.

The Socialists are expected to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. MP Lajos Korózs said “there is no stopping; we shall carry on, all the way to Strasbourg, if necessary”.

The popular initiative submitted by Csaba Molnár, a member of the Democratic Coalition said “we are putting forward an initiative to have Parliament put the new Constitution to a referendum before it is promulgated”.

The questions submitted by three Socialist Party members ran like this: “Do you agree that the state (the cabinet) should in no way be in a position to redirect private pension fund contributions even provisionally?

“Do you agree that private pension fund contributions may not be modified under the law – not even provisionally – to pension contributions?”

“Do you agree that the membership fees of private pension funds of citizens may only be handled by private pension funds selected solely by the citizens?"

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'.

  • How does this content make you feel?