Hungarians Invited to Share Views on Migrant Quotas Ahead of Referendum

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Following the decision of the Hungarian president to hold a referendum on Brussels' plan to introduce migrant quotas on October 2, the government will start an active campaign, during which citizens and organizations are welcome to explain their opinion on the issue, the press-office for the government of Hungary told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hungarian President Janos Ader announced that long-awaited referendum on weather the Hungarians want the European Union to impose the compulsory resettlement of non-Hungarian citizens to Hungary without consent of the parliament would be held on October 2.

"The Hungarian Government will inform the Hungarian electorate in an active campaign. We invite every citizen and association to explain their opinion during that campaign," the press-office said, promising to organize the forthcoming referendum "efficiently and fully in line with the domestic legal requirements and international standards."

The idea to hold such a vote was first floated in February by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who opposed Brussels' decision to redistribute some 160,000 asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East throughout the bloc over a two-year period in order to tackle a major refugee crisis. Budapest is obliged to take in 2,300 refugees under this scheme.

Late last year, Budapest filed a lawsuit against the EU on the issue with the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, but the case is still pending.