The ruling Fidesz and KDNP (Christian Democratic People’s Party) parties will begin a nationwide campaign tour on Monday, 19 November to urge the public to take part in the National Consultation survey, Fidesz’s communications director István Hollik has announced. The National Consultation ‘is under attack’ because the opposition has tried to label it ‘a stalling tactic’ and ‘unnecessary’, Hollik went on to say in a video posted to his Facebook page on Sunday, 19 November.
The public survey is a unique opportunity in a European context for Hungarians to voice their opinions on key issues—in this case, national sovereignty—he stressed, then added:
‘We can let Brussels and the dollar left know that we won’t budge one iota on Hungarian interests and Hungarian sovereignty’.
The Orbán administration launched its National Consultation initiative in 2011, to receive direct feedback from citizens on important issues and planned measures. The questionnaires are paper-based and are mailed to citizens, but the survey can also be completed online. Participation in the national consultations is voluntary.
As opposition voters tend to ignore the survey, the propositions on the ‘ballot’ backed by the Fidesz party tend to receiver over 90 per cent approval ratings. However, still, based on the number of responses returned, the Orbán administration can gauge the level of public support for their policies. In an exclusive interview with our site in October 2023, Brent Buchanan of Cygnal Polling & Analytics praised the method as effective.
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Sources: MTI/Hungarian Conservative