Hungarians Reject the Cabinet's Policies
9 March 2008
Nearly one and a half years after Mr Orbán first announced the opposition's plan to hold a referendum, on 9 March, more than 3 million people voted to abolish the fees introduced by the socialist-liberal cabinet. A 50% turnout gives a considerable weight to the decision.
Although most polls predicted a victory for the centre-right Fidesz, none had anticipated a turnout of 50% with on average more than 80% rejecting fees for tuition at universities, doctors' visits and hospital overnight stays.
The victory of Sunday's binding referendum is a personal defeat for PM Ferenc Gyurcsány: the government implemented austerity measures to help restore the budget's balance, causing a decline in living standards and real wages. Although on a European average, Hungarians are among the highest tax-payers, further fees were introduced for doctors' visits, university studies and hospital overnight stays, causing popular opposition and mass demonstrations throughout the country.
On the night of the victory, the chairman of Fidesz, Viktor Orbán said the referendum showed that Hungarians "still had their self-esteem. This victory is a proof of that. There has never been such strong unity among younger and older generations in Hungary", declared the former PM.
The fees will be abolished from 1 April, and although the cabinet maintains that there are no further resources in the budget to compensate for the hospitals' and universities' losses, Fidesz has already submitted a bill that finds the necessary funds.
orbanviktor.hu