HUNGARY: HUNGARIANS HEAD TO POLLS TO VOTE IN EMOTIONALLY-CHARGE REFERENDUM ON CITIZENSHIP
Record ID:
328755
HUNGARY: HUNGARIANS HEAD TO POLLS TO VOTE IN EMOTIONALLY-CHARGE REFERENDUM ON CITIZENSHIP
- Title: HUNGARY: HUNGARIANS HEAD TO POLLS TO VOTE IN EMOTIONALLY-CHARGE REFERENDUM ON CITIZENSHIP
- Date: 5th December 2004
- Summary: (W4) BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (DECEMBER 5, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. CU: POSTER SHOWING VOTING RULES AT POLLING STATION 0.05 2. PRIME MINISTER FERENC GYURCSANY WITH FAMILY REGISTERING FOR VOTE 0.16 3. PRIME MINISTER LEAVING VOTING BOOTH WITH DAUGHTER, DAUGHTER CASTING BALLOT 0.26 4. PRIME MINISTER'S WIFE AND SON CASTING BALLOT 0.39 5. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE REGISTERING AT POLLING STATION AND CASTING BALLOTS (6 SHOTS) 1.11 (W5) BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (DECEMBER 5, 2004) (REUTERS) 6. WIDE OF HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT 1.15 7. HUNGARIAN FLAGS ON A BOAT ON DANUBE 1.19 8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON DANUBE EMBANKMENT (2 SHOTS) 1.33 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) REGINA URBAN, 27, SAYING: "I am afraid that those who would come over will only be poor people who live in bad conditions, in places like Romania". 1.51 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) JOSEF MAJOR, 65, SAYING: "We should have responsibility towards the Hungarian minority across the borders and this moral stance is above the financial considerations". 2.02 11. MAN SITTING ON BENCH BY THE DANUBE 2.06 12. VARIOUS OF PANORAMA OF BUDAPEST WITH CHAIN BRIDGE ON DANUBE (2 SHOTS) 2.18 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th December 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- Country: Hungary
- Reuters ID: LVA4GCVQRSBXPXL8CCAVQTDL85TM
- Story Text: Hungarians head to the polls to vote in an
emotionally-charged referendum on citizenship.
Hungarians headed to the polls on Sunday (December
5) to vote in an emotionally-charged referendum on granting
dual citizenship to millions of ethnic Hungarians living
abroad, and on stopping hospital privatization.
The vote on citizenship, its supporters say, could heal
the hurt of a nation which lost two-thirds of its land
after World War One, while critics say a yes would be
backward-looking for a modern European Union state as well
as costly.
The vote has pinned Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany and
his Socialist party, who oppose dual citizenship, against
ex-premier Viktor Orban and the opposition Fidesz, and
threatens to strip Gyurcsany, who was elected just two
months ago, of his power to control the domestic political
agenda.
The referendum on citizenship also threatens to sour
Hungary's relations with its neighbours, especially
Romania, which has voiced concern over the possibility that
Hungary would grant citizenship to some Romanians.
In the streets of Budapest reactions were mixed.
"I am afraid that those who would come over will only
be poor people who live in bad conditions, in places like
Romania," said 27-year-old Regina Urban.
65-year-old Josef Major said: "We should have
responsibility towards the Hungarian minority across the
borders and this moral stance is above the financial
considerations."
Polls close at 7 pm (1800 GMT) and preliminary results
are due about 9 pm (2000 GMT).
Opinion polls indicate that dual citizenship will be
approved by a narrow majority while an overwhelming
majority will vote for halting the privatization of health
care institutions. However, turnout could be the critical
issue in the vote. Pollsters predict a turnout of between
35 and 45 percent, and a low turnout risks an inconclusive
outcome. The plebiscite will only be valid if 50 percent
of eligible voters turn out or, if less, if at least 25
percent of the 8 million electorate vote either yes or no.
Fidesz has championed both votes from the go saying
dual citizenship would heal a split nation and that
hospitals staying in state hands would ensure costs to
patients remain reasonable. But analysts said Fidesz also
saw the vote as a way to reach across party lines and
appeal to Socialist voters as both issues divide the left.
Gyurcsany has pinned his campaign against citizenship
on stoking fears of immigration, claiming Hungarians in
poor Balkan states will flock to Hungary.
He also argued that many health care facilities would
not be able to function without private money and the state
will not have enough cash over the coming years for badly
needed hospital reform.
Gyurcsany will emerge as the winner if there is a clear
no vote. If there is a yes, Fidesz and Orban will have
inflicted a big defeat on the man who promised the
Socialists he would win a second term in 2006.
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