Hungary: Elections Committee Rejects Referendum Initiatives on Tobacco Concessions

Source from:  All Hungary Media Group (AHMG) (hu)  05/29/2013

The National Elections Committee (OVB) on Tuesday rejected referendum initiatives concerning a recent tobacco concession tender.

The initiatives, submitted by an unnamed private individual, sought to annul the bid and to put out a new tender, as well as to publish all bids in the original procedure.

The committee rejected the initiatives, finding they were not clearly worded or fell beyond the scope of parliament.

Under legislation approved last September tobacco products will only be sold in newly established national tobacco shops from July 1.

The opposition parties have accused Fidesz of influencing the national tobacco bid and granting concessions to people and companies linked to the party. Enditem