A referendum initiative on whether private capital should be allowed into the Hungarian health insurance system is losing its purpose now that the Free Democrats, the party that supported the idea, is quitting the governing coalition, writes news portal Hírszerző. The caucus of the Socialist Party, which is to govern in minority, made a decision on Tuesday to not let in private capital.
Meanwhile, the group called TB Mentők (Social Insurance Rescuers) is to submit their initiative supported by the required number of signatures to the National Election Commission (OVB) later today. The group believes the referendum could be held in November, but an election expert asked by the portal thinks this unlikely.
Socialist caucus leader Ildikó Lendvai said on television this morning that even she would vote “yes” at the referendum initiated by the TB Mentők and would create a new law.
“There is no guarantee that last year’s law will be withdrawn,” TB Mentők Spokesman Zsolt Boda said, in response to Lendvai’s remarks. “One leader of a party in minority is making promises that a new law will be created instead of the one already passed, while the SZDSZ is sure to not support the proposal, and the views of the rest of the parties are not clear.”
Election expert Zoltán Tóth thinks it is unlikely that another referendum will be held before the end of this year, as a referendum initiated by civilians might take 18 months to process.
In the current case, if the OVB finds that there is an adequate number of valid signatures, Parliament is obligated to discuss the question and make a decision on the referendum, however, the initiative can be attacked at the Constitutional Court (AB). Presently, the question is whether a law exists which the referendum wishes to withdraw, Hírszerző writes.
