Collecting Personal Data Behind Tisza Party’s Fake Referendum

A week ago, Peter Magyar launched his so-called referendum, which he is touting as a sweeping success. However, the credibility of this vote is highly questionable for several reasons. The number of people allegedly filling out the Tisza Party’s questionnaire is dubious at best, participation requires submitting personal data, and many of the questions it contains echo left-wing talking points.

Peter Magyar, Tisza Party president (Photo: Balazs Hatlaczki)

Beyond doubts about the number of participants, concerns also arise over the requirement to submit personal data to take part in the vote. This raises suspicions that the referendum is merely a data collection effort for the Tisza Party.

Additionally, the nature of the questions themselves is problematic. One question proposes a two-term limit (a maximum of eight years in office) for prime ministers. However, back in 2017, the Momentum party attempted to hold a referendum on this same issue, but Hungary’s Supreme Court (Kuria) ruled that such a restriction would violate the sovereignty of Parliament’s decision-making process and require a constitutional amendment. 

It is also worth noting that apart from Momentum, Jobbik and Peter Marki-Zay - losing joint PM candidate of Hungary's unified opposition - also attempted such a proposal. So Peter Magyar is merely recycling old left-wing ideas. Similarly, his questions about reducing VAT also align with the long-standing leftist-liberal narrative.

The last question in Magyar’s referendum concerns Ukraine’s EU membership, but the relevance of this issue is highly questionable. Firstly, both Peter Magyar and his party have consistently expressed support for Ukraine. 

Notably, Tisza Party MEPs previously appeared in the European Parliament supporting the continuation of the war by wearing T-shirts featuring the Ukraine flag. Moreover, Magyar’s name appeared on an EU declaration advocating increased weapons and ammunition support for Ukraine.

Now, according to the latest poll by the Nezopont Institute, a majority of Tisza Party supporters favor Ukraine’s EU membership—further demonstrating that this referendum question is largely unnecessary.

Cover photo: Peter Magyar, Tisza Party president (Photo: Balazs Hatlaczki)