Election Committee condemns thugs disturbing referendum procedure

Budapest (MTI) – The “presence and behaviour” of a group of thugs inside the National Election Office at the time Socialist deputies and private individuals were submitting referendum initiatives was against the law, the National Election Committee said on Monday.

The Committee responded to a complaint filed by Socialist politician István Nyakó, who insisted that the thugs had held him up and a private individual, who had arrived at the office later, succeeded in stamping her document shortly before the Socialists could make their way to the checking spot.

Both referendums were proposed in connection with Hungary’s Sunday shopping ban.

The Committee said, however, that they could not ascertain if the thugs had actually held the Socialists up, or if “the private individual and her companion took advantage of the situation”.

Of referendum initiatives on the same subject, the Office deals with the submission first received.

Meanwhile, the Committee gave the green light to the referendum initiative submitted ahead of the Socialist proposal.

According to the proposal approved, voters would be asked if they agree that retails shops should continue to stay closed on Sundays.

The initiative was submitted last Tuesday, after which the Socialists filed their complaint and said a group of “bald-shaved thugs” had held up their representatives at the entrance of the Election Office while the other proponent and her companion could make their way to the checkpoint and have their initiative stamped arriving just a few seconds ahead of the Socialists.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters