Home > 2.1.4 Others > HUNGARY - Act CCXXXVIII of 2013 on Initiating Referendums, the European Citizens’ Initiative and Referendum Procedure
 
 
 
Download file    
 
 
5. Verification of the signatures
 

(1) If the circumstance specified in subsection (3) of section 8 exists, and the number of valid signatures on the sheets submitted first under subsection (1) of section 19 (hereinafter referred to as ’primary submission’) does not attain two hundred thousand, but is at least one hundred thousand, and the resolution determining the result of the verification of the signatures has become final, the organiser shall, in the case of a referendum initiative having the same content, hand over (hereinafter referred to as ’secondary submission’) all the signature sheets to the National Election Office until the 85th day (hereinafter referred to as ’submission deadline with suspensory effect’) following the day of the primary submission.


(2) When making the secondary submission, the organiser shall declare whether


a) he requests that the collection of signatures be suspended, or


b) he requests that the signatures submitted be verified under subsection (1) of section 19, or


c) he withdraws his referendum initiative.


(3) In the case of a failure to comply with the obligation, under subsection (2), to make a declaration, the referendum initiative shall be considered as withdrawn.


(4) In the case of a failure to comply with the obligation, under subsection (1), the National Election Commission shall impose a fine of its own motion. The amount of this fine is one thousand forints for each signature sheet that has not been handed over.


(5) From the day following the submission deadline with suspensory effect until the decision – taken by the National Assembly on the basis of the information under subsection (3) of section 23, and in accordance with subsection (2) of section 25, and based on the second sentenceof subsection (1) of Article 8 of the Fundamental Law – not to order the referendum, the deadline under subsection (1) of section 14 shall temporarily cease.


(6) In the case of a suspension within the meaning of paragraph a) of subsection (2),


a) the suspension shall cease on the day on which the National Assembly take their decision – on the basis of the information under subsection (3) of section 23, and in accordance with subsection (2) of section 25, and based on the second sentenceof subsection (1) of Article 8 of the Fundamental Law – not to order the referendum, and within five days the National Election Office shall hand over to the organiser the signature sheets containing the certified question, in the quantity he has specified,


b) from the day of the secondary submission until the day when the signature sheets, as specified in paragraph a), are handed over, the deadline within the meaning of subsection (1) of section 19 shall temporarily cease, and


c) if the National Assembly, by virtue of subsection (1) of Article 8 of the Fundamental Law, has ordered the referendum in a legally binding way, the suspended referendum initiative shall cease definitively.