Hungary Explained: the National Consultation

The National Consultation is a government-organized nationwide opinion poll in Hungary. It is also a mailing campaign. It’s not held regularly. It usually happens when Orbán’s propaganda machine wants to introduce or reinforce topics in the public discourse.

The government sends out a questionnaire by mail to every citizen. There is an opt-out opportunity. Very few people use it for at least two reasons. One, it’s a lengthy and complicated procedure. Secondly, you don’t want to be registered as an “Orbán-hater.” Most people simply throw the letter out unopened. 

According to the government, around 1.5 million people answer the questions. The official line is that the government follows the vox populi expressed in the answers. 

In reality, these campaigns set the tone and topics of public discourse for the next 6-18 months. 

They ask leading questions and the questions go on billboards all around the country. Aggressive YouTube ads pound the suggested answers into the brains of the viewers.  

Is this just an expensive and aggressive media campaign? No, it’s more than just that. 

Although national consultation is not part of Hungarian law, the government uses it as a “legal” basis for its actions. 

Orbán is afraid of using referenda for this purpose. He has a solid voter basis, but it’s only around 30-40% of the population. The rest dislike him but are either politically passive or heavily divided along party lines. 

Issues, however, can pull the haters together. Protest votes can also play a role. Orbán is afraid of a vote he cannot control. National consultation is there to serve as a substitute for a referendum.