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Hungary referendum rejects EU mandatory migrant plan Hungary PM claims EU migrant quota referendum victory
(35 minutes later)
Hungarians who voted in a referendum on Sunday have overwhelmingly rejected mandatory EU migrant quotas, the national election office has said. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban has declared victory in a referendum on mandatory EU migrant quotas, despite a low turnout that appeared to render it invalid.
But exit polls suggest that turnout failed to reach the 50% needed for the result to be valid. Nearly 98% of those who took part supported the government's call to reject the EU plan.
With nearly all the votes counted, 98% rejected the quotas, officials said. But only 43% of the electorate voted, short of the 50% required to be valid.
Right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban described the result as "overwhelming" and said the EU "cannot force" Hungary to accept migrants. A government spokesman said the outcome was binding "politically and legally" but the opposition said the government did not have the support it needed.
He urged EU decision makers to take note of the result and said he would change Hungary's constitution to make the decision binding. Mr Orban urged EU decision makers to take note of the result and said he would change Hungary's constitution to make the decision binding.
The EU plan to relocate 160,000 migrants across the bloc would mean Hungary receiving 1,294 asylum seekers. The controversial EU plan to relocate 160,000 migrants across the bloc would mean Hungary receiving 1,294 asylum seekers.
Ferenc Gyurcsany, leader of the opposition Democratic Coalition, said the low turnout showed that most people did not support the government.
"According to this result with such low turnout, the people do not support the government. And this is good. The migration issue outreaches Hungarian borders."
But a government spokesman said the result could not be regarded as invalid.
"The government initiated the referendum, so both politically and legally the outcome is binding," he said.
"The 50% would have made a difference because parliament could have no alternative but to make a decision. But parliament is behind the government regarding the decision. This is a reinforced mandate for the government."
During last year's migrant crisis, Hungary became a transit state on the Western Balkan route to Germany and other EU destinations.During last year's migrant crisis, Hungary became a transit state on the Western Balkan route to Germany and other EU destinations.
In an effort to curb the influx, it sealed its border with Serbia and Croatia. The measure was popular at home but criticised by human rights groups.In an effort to curb the influx, it sealed its border with Serbia and Croatia. The measure was popular at home but criticised by human rights groups.
The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest says that if the poll is declared invalid it would be a disappointing result for Mr Orban's Fidesz government following months of mobilisation and an expensive campaign. The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest says the low turnout will be disappointing for Mr Orban's Fidesz government following months of mobilisation and an expensive campaign.
Voters were asked: "Do you want the European Union to be able to mandate the obligatory resettlement of non-Hungarian citizens into Hungary even without the approval of the National Assembly?"Voters were asked: "Do you want the European Union to be able to mandate the obligatory resettlement of non-Hungarian citizens into Hungary even without the approval of the National Assembly?"
Shortly after voting, Mr Orban said: "Hungarians are aware of what is at the stake. And it's important because it's not about the will of the government, it's not the intention of the parliament. It's the voice and will of the people - that's most important."
The EU proposal was meant to ease pressure on Greece and Italy, the main entry points for migrants and refugees into the bloc.The EU proposal was meant to ease pressure on Greece and Italy, the main entry points for migrants and refugees into the bloc.
In December Hungary filed a court challenge against the EU plan, which would see relocations over two years.In December Hungary filed a court challenge against the EU plan, which would see relocations over two years.