The issue also concerns the budget, he said, arguing that under the quota plan, Hungary would have to pay 79 million forints (EUR 250,000) for every refugee it turns away. This would cost the state a total of 102 billion forints, he said, noting that Hungary would have to take in 1,294 people under the scheme.

He noted that a prior appeal he had submitted to the Constitutional Court against parliament’s approval of the referendum was turned down last month. Szanyi said he would turn to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if President János Áder sets the date for the referendum before his complaint is reviewed.

The Kúria, Hungary’s supreme court, greenlighted the national referendum on May 3 and it was then approved by lawmakers on May 10.

A total of four appeals were submitted to the Constitutional Court in connection with the referendum; one against the Kúria’s decision and three against parliament’s.

The Constitutional Court rejected all four appeals on June 21. Under the referendum law, the president has to announce the date of the referendum within 15 days of the court’s decision.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.