Hungary's Orban claims referendum victory despite low turnout
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 3 October 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Hungary's Orban claims referendum victory despite low turnout, 3 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a0584.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 03, 2016
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (file photo)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared victory in a referendum on mandatory European Union migrant resettlement quotas, despite a low turnout that appeared to render it invalid.
With about 99 percent of the votes counted in the October 2 vote, more than 3.2 million voters – or about 98 percent of those who cast valid ballots – backed the government to reject the EU quotas.
But only 43 percent of the electorate voted, short of the 50 percent required to be valid.
"We achieved an excellent result," Orban said on October 3, referring to the outcome as a "weapon that will be rather sharp in Brussels."
Orban, a right-wing populist, made no mention of the referendum being invalid, and said he would present a proposal to amend the constitution reflecting people's intentions.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP, and the BBC
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
