Fidesz Aims to Limit Opposition's Freedom of Movement with Legislative Amendment
It is not entirely clear what political considerations are behind it, but it is certain that they exist," said László Róbert, an election expert at Political Capital, to our newspaper.
The government plans to make several amendments to the electoral laws before the local elections.
One of the proposed changes is that no by-elections can be held in the year preceding the elections, and the vacant local government position would be filled by the party that previously held the mandate.
Another change is that on municipalities with a population of over ten thousand, a party must nominate candidates in at least two-thirds of the individual districts if they want to present a compensation list.
This was reported by Magyar Nemzet.
According to the amendment proposal, only those by-elections that have already begun campaigning will be held.
Therefore, for example, the election in the XII.
District, where the late Vágó István from the Democratic Coalition (DK) was a candidate, will not take place - as reported by the newspaper.
"It is not clear what political considerations are behind it, but it is certain that they exist," said László Róbert, an election expert at Political Capital, to our newspaper.
Although the ban on holding by-elections previously applied to a much shorter period, the introduction of the one-year deadline will not change the political balance.
However, it raises constitutional concerns if a party can ensure the filling of a vacant mandate not only on the party list but also in the case of an individual district vacancy, added László Róbert.
The provision that requires parties to nominate candidates in two-thirds of the districts on municipalities with a population over ten thousand is similar to the rule that Fidesz introduced before the parliamentary elections.
At that time, it was necessary to nominate candidates in two-thirds of the individual districts in order to present a national list.
This amendment ultimately determined that opposition parties would appear on a joint list.
Fidesz's interest is to fragment the opposition as much as possible.
However, at first glance, the government's proposal seems to push the opposition towards cooperation,
László Róbert also pointed out that under the previous regulation, it was enough to nominate candidates in "more than half" of the districts to present a compensation list.
This allowed two parties (or party alliances) to have their own compensation list by running against each other in only one or two individual constituencies.
If they need two-thirds of the constituencies for list formation, they will not have the opportunity unless they run against each other in more than a third of the individual districts...
One of the proposed changes is that no by-elections can be held in the year preceding the elections, and the vacant local government position would be filled by the party that previously held the mandate.
Another change is that on municipalities with a population of over ten thousand, a party must nominate candidates in at least two-thirds of the individual districts if they want to present a compensation list.
This was reported by Magyar Nemzet.
According to the amendment proposal, only those by-elections that have already begun campaigning will be held.
Therefore, for example, the election in the XII.
District, where the late Vágó István from the Democratic Coalition (DK) was a candidate, will not take place - as reported by the newspaper.
"It is not clear what political considerations are behind it, but it is certain that they exist," said László Róbert, an election expert at Political Capital, to our newspaper.
Although the ban on holding by-elections previously applied to a much shorter period, the introduction of the one-year deadline will not change the political balance.
However, it raises constitutional concerns if a party can ensure the filling of a vacant mandate not only on the party list but also in the case of an individual district vacancy, added László Róbert.
The provision that requires parties to nominate candidates in two-thirds of the districts on municipalities with a population over ten thousand is similar to the rule that Fidesz introduced before the parliamentary elections.
At that time, it was necessary to nominate candidates in two-thirds of the individual districts in order to present a national list.
This amendment ultimately determined that opposition parties would appear on a joint list.
Fidesz's interest is to fragment the opposition as much as possible.
However, at first glance, the government's proposal seems to push the opposition towards cooperation,
László Róbert also pointed out that under the previous regulation, it was enough to nominate candidates in "more than half" of the districts to present a compensation list.
This allowed two parties (or party alliances) to have their own compensation list by running against each other in only one or two individual constituencies.
If they need two-thirds of the constituencies for list formation, they will not have the opportunity unless they run against each other in more than a third of the individual districts...
