Parliament amends election law

Parliament’s legislative committee last week approved provisional changes that would see a compensation list awarded in respect of settlements with more than 10,000 people voting in local government elections to parties that nominate candidates in at least two-thirds of individual constituencies.

In Budapest, a party that nominates mayoral candidates in at least two-thirds of the districts would be entitled to submit a compensation list.

Also, it will no longer be possible to call a by-election one year prior to the local government election if the mandate of an individual constituency MP ends prematurely. Accordingly, a person on the party’s compensation list would step in.

Further, interim municipal elections will only be held before next year’s local council elections if a campaign is already under way.

The amendment was passed with 130 votes in favour, 51 against and 6 abstentions.