Hungary will become the first European country after the UK to vote in an EU-themed referendum, when Hungarians will be asked to approve or reject Brussels’ refugee resettlement scheme on October 2.
Janos Ader, Hungary’s president, announced the referendum date on Tuesday, opening a new chapter in the debate over Europe’s response to the refugee influx, writes Andrew Byrne in Budapest.
The issue has already pitted prime minister Viktor Orban against German chancellor Angela Merkel and the European Commission, which he has criticised for ignoring public concerns over immigration.
Hungarians will be asked to either agree or disagree with the statement:
Do you want to allow the European Union to mandate the resettlement of non-Hungarian citizens to Hungary without the approval of parliament?
