Economy 11 January 2022, 4:31pm

Hungary President announces 2022 election date

Portfolio

Hungary's next parliamentary election will be held on 3 April 2022, President János Áder has announced on Tuesday. This is the earliest date allowed by the Fundamental Law (Constitution) and the election law.

3 April is election day

"This year, for the ninth time, the citizens of Hungary who have the right to vote will be free to decide who they entrust with the management of our common affairs," writes János Áder.

On Tuesday morning, a photo started circulating on Facebook pages linked to the opposition, suggesting that the National Election Office (NVI) already knew when the parliamentary elections will be held.

The picture shows the cover of a booklet entitled "Manual for the ballot counting committees", and it has a date stamped on it: "3 April, 2022".

The NVI replied to news portal 444.hu's inquiry that this manual was only a draft, which has been sent out to some stakeholders for technical consultation. They claim they always write the earliest possible date for the election on the drafts, which is why the date of 3 April is on the front page this time. The office insisted that this draft is not yet final and it is not public.

Referendum on the same day

In another statement, Áder reminded that on 9 November 2021, Parliament had unanimously decided that referendums could also be held on the day of the general election. The President has also set 3 April as the date for referendums on the four questions ordered by the Parliamentary resolution.

The four questions are:

Do you support the teaching of sexual orientation to minors in public education institutions without parental consent?
Do you support the promotion of sex reassignment therapy for underage children?
Do you support the unrestricted exposure of underage children to sexually explicit media content that may affect their development?
Do you support the showing of sex-change media content to minors?

Opposition prime ministerial candidate Péter Márki-Zay has branded the referendum questions as “stupid.”

Hungary's ruling coalition of PM Orbán's Fidesz party and its junior ally, the Christian Democrats (KDNP), passed amendments to its child protection law last June, aiming to protect children from “LGBTQ propaganda.” The measure sparked international outcry and was condemned by various organisatinos, including the Venice Commission as incompatible with international human rights norms.