In a statement Áder said the bill could not be objected to from a constitutional point of view. He added that referendums may not be held on obligations resulting from international treaties.

All other parties except Jobbik reiterated their opposition to the bill.

LMP co-president Bernadett Szél said her party aims to get the bill submitted to the Constitutional Court, and is asking ombudsman László Székely to intervene.

It is a tragedy, she said, that Áder had decided on the next 100 years of the country “with the stroke of a pen”.

Parties included in the left-wing Union staged a torchlight demonstration against the decision Monday evening outside the presidential office in Buda Castle.

Speakers addressing the crowd of about 500 demanded that Áder return the bill to Parliament.

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'.