Hungary's Migrant Quotas Referendum Invalid amid Low Turnout

Hungarian PM Viktor Orb?n (pictured) has insisted he will secure an opt out of quotas for his country if those are rejected by voters. File photo, EPA/BGNES

The national poll held in Hungary on whether to ban mandatory relocation of migrants from Southern Europe is expected to be invalid as turnout is lower than the 50% threshold, media reports say.

Most of those who have participated in the referendum, however, have rejected mandatory quotas.

Orb?n also warned that a law will be adopted taking the people's will into consideration if the prevailing attitudes are against quotas, regardless of whether activity is big enough to make the poll valid.

The development is nevertheless thought to be a blow to Prime Minister Viktor Orb?n, who advocates a policy of curbing the migrant inflow into Europe over identity, security and terrorism issues.

Voter activity among Hungary's 8.28 m electorate is estimated at around 45%, according to German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Hungarian website Magyar T?virati Iroda, quoted by Focus News Agency, sets the activity at nearly 42.58%.

With 66.32% of ballots processed, some 98.23% have said "no" to mandatory relocation, the same media outlet writes.

Orb?n has repeatedly asserted he would do his best to enforce an opt-out of the mandatory quotas if those are rejected by voters.

 

 

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