The vote in the southern city of Pécs was invalid, as 32.5% of eligible voters participated, falling short of the required 50% quorum. The government will now move to start construction, using NATO funds, as soon as possible, said Zoltán Gál, a government spokesman, in Budapest today. “Hungary definitely needs this radar,” Gál said. “The majority didn’t oppose it; we believe that anybody wanting to express dissent went to cast their votes.
The prime minister has asked the defense minister to immediately contact NATO.” Of those who participated in the referendum, 94.3% rejected the plan. The NATO radar has been criticized by environmental groups who forced the government to abandon another nearby location in 2005. President László Sólyom at the time was one of the protesters.
The new location was chosen as a compromise between Sólyom and Defense Minister Imre Szekeres, Gál said. “We will instruct the builders to take utmost care of the environment,” he said. “Environmental, military and national security interests all have to be protected.” (Bloomberg)
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