Hungarian Vote Divides Malta’s Hungarian Community

Imagine the bustling streets of Ħamrun, Malta’s heartland, abuzz with chatter not in Maltese or English, but in Hungarian. This isn’t a scene from a movie, but a reality for Malta’s Hungarian community, who’ve been glued to their screens, eyes fixed on the other side of Europe. They’re not alone. Across Malta, eyes are on Hungary, as the country votes in a referendum that could reshape its future.

Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s Prime Minister since 2010, is facing a challenge. Not from an opposition party, but from his own people. The referendum on Sunday, April 2, isn’t about a policy or a law, but about Orbán’s rule. The question is simple: Should Hungary accept EU migrant quotas? The answer, however, is complex. It’s a vote on Orbán’s handling of the migrant crisis, his stance on the EU, and his grip on power.

Orbán’s Fidesz party has been accused of eroding democratic norms, cracking down on press freedom, and stacking courts with loyalists. This referendum, held amidst a pandemic, is seen as a test of Orbán’s popularity and a chance for Hungarians to voice their discontent.

Malta’s Hungarian community, numbering around 2,000, is small but vocal. They’ve been following the referendum closely, their fate intertwined with Hungary’s. Many fled Hungary after the 1956 revolution, seeking refuge in Malta. Today, their children and grandchildren are Maltese, but their hearts remain in Hungary.

“We’ve seen Hungary’s journey from communism to democracy,” says János Szabó, a retired engineer living in Birkirkara. “We’ve watched Orbán’s rise, his successes, and his failures. This referendum is about more than migrants. It’s about Hungary’s future.”

Szabó and others have been campaigning, not just in Malta, but online, encouraging Hungarians to vote. “We’re a small community, but we have a voice. We want Hungarians to use theirs too,” he says.

The referendum saw a record turnout. Over 43% of Hungarians cast their vote, a significant number in a country where turnout often hovers around 30%. The result? A resounding ‘no’ to migrant quotas, but a divided nation. Orbán hailed it as a victory, but critics argue that the low threshold for validity (20% turnout) made the result questionable.

Back in Malta, the Hungarian community is divided too. Some celebrate the result, others mourn it. But all agree on one thing: Hungary’s future is in the hands of its people. And that’s a message worth remembering, whether you’re in Budapest or Birkirkara.