The National Election Committee rejected on Thursday a question submitted for a referendum on free coronavirus testing.
The question was submitted by opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) politician László Sebián-Petrovszki as a private individual on whether the state should provide PCR tests free of charge to all Hungarians as well as European Union citizens staying in Budapest.
A majority of the committee argued that the issue belonged to the authority of parliament, not the government, and a national referendum could only be held on an matter which fell within the government’s powers. Additionally, the committee argued that the question submitted could result in the false conclusion that PCR tests were not currently available free of charge.
Tests are available free of charge in Hungary if a doctor prescribes one because there is a well-founded reason to believe a patient is carrying the virus.
Featured photo illustration by János Nemes/MTI
