Citizens in the proposed referendum will be asked “Do you want to allow the European Union to mandate the resettlement of non-Hungarian citizens to Hungary without the approval of the National Assembly?” The question was submitted on behalf of the government by cabinet office chief Antal Rogán and the election committee approved it on Feb. 29. Four appeals were submitted to revise the committee decision.

After assessing the appeals against the election committee’s approval of the initiative, the Kúria determined that the referendum question is in line with both the constitution and the referendum law.

The three criteria a referendum question has to meet in order to be cleared are that it cannot be in conflict with international treaties, its subject must fall within the competence of parliament and it must be clearly phrased. The supreme court said the government’s question met all three requirements.

The court said the question does not clash with any international treaty because it concerns a European Council resolution and not Hungary’s treaty of accession. The court said any area subject to regulation falls within parliament’s competence. In the case of the referendum question, determining the legal status of non- Hungarian citizens staying in Hungary as well as the lawful duration of their stay is a subject matter that falls under parliament’s jurisdiction, the Kúria said.

Commenting on the ruling, Rogán said that parliament could decide as early as next week about holding the referendum and allocating the necessary funds for the purpose, so the popular vote could be held in late September or early October.

The Socialists and Liberals that appealed against the referendum initiative at the Kúria “still have a promigration position” and if it were up to them, Brussels would be given the right to force migrants onto Hungary, he said.

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MTI photo: Koszticsák Szilárd