1988. szeptember (209-245. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
í <<H<9NMUAN SÍM Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 225/1988 (E) 11th September, 1988 Denut.y Kinister of ths Interior on the Modification of the Slectoral Law It seems that the Hungárián govemment has succeeded in opening up a new front in the political aréna, where debate on manydelicate questions divides society: the rapidly decreasing standard of living, the right of assembly and association, the Bős-Nagymaros dam, concem fór the national minorities. The new theme is the electoral law. The basic problem has remained unchanged fór decades: how can those in- power manage to get their own candidates intő Parliament so that it appears to be the result of free elections. At the beginning in 1947 this was done by depriving hundreds of thousands of the right to vote and by eliminating undesirable parties and exiling and arresting undesirable persons. In 1949 only official candidates could be voted in: the voters were intimidated and Parliament became a voting machine. In the 60s during the period of liberalisation and the opening up towards the West the regul- ations were modified a little. Those participating in the nominating assembly could propose their own candidates in addition to the Peoples Front ones. However such attempts were frustrated by the authorities: the only independent candidate was Dr Zoltán Szép who got intő Parliament in 1971 bút who was subsequently exiled from Hungary by zealous interior agencies. In 1983 new modifications appeared: the political leadership was afraid of a Hungárián repeat of the Polish social upheaval and as it was asking fór Western credit it made much internál and foreign propaganda fór its innovation making multiple nomination compulsory in every electoral district. In the 1985 nominating assemblies citizens proposed several hundred candidates bút only a small number appeared on the ballot papers. The organisers manipulated the nominating assemblies to such an extent that an independent publication fiiled 232 large sheets of small print with a record of the cheating. The main method was to fill the assemblies with the Party faithful and the police so that local people could nőt even enter. Even so the'85 elections inspired panic in the Party leadership because 32 civil candidates, 9$ of the M.P.s, entered Parliament. Something had to be done, freedom does nőt mean taking liberties, democracy does nőt mean that any vagrant can interfere in the management of the country. Sadly we have to pay more attention to glasnost and Western bankers now than we did in*85. What is the solution? Introduce a név/ law, restrict rights, bút say that the modification serves greater democratis- ation. Zoltán Gál Deputy Minister of the Interior said on the Kossuth Rádió programme "168 Hours" on September lOth that the new electoral law wishes to prevent spontaneous civil nominations in the nominating assemblies. Only officially recognised social, political and safe-guarding of interests organisations can make proposals and then only in writing. The proposals must be submitted to the nominating assembly accompanied by a classification given by the nominating committee. The details of the plán are obscure bút its essence is clear: A step back away from free elections and from M.P.s who represent the people. That leaves one question: Do those in power miscalculate when they think that the population will take this lying down. /’4~--------------------------- 1 Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
