On Wednesday Csaba Dömötör, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister, told public television channel M1 that the referendum on compulsory settlement is an issue of national importance; it is not about party politics, or the fate of individual parties: it is about Hungary’s future.

Mr. Dömötör explained that from time to time Hungarians decide on the country’s most important issues in referenda: this is how Hungary joined the EU and NATO, for example.

The State Secretary said that if millions of people vote and send the message that Brussels should cancel its plans for compulsory settlement, this will primarily have political consequences.

Mr. Dömötör added that the campaign for the referendum being held on 2 October has reached a new phase; the main message will now be: “Let us not risk Hungary’s future – let us say ‘no’”.