The Government of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyarország Kormánya) exercises executive power in Hungary.[1] It is led by the Prime Minister, and is composed of various ministers.[2] It is the principal organ of public administration. The Prime Minister (miniszterelnök) is elected by the National Assembly and serves as the head of government and exercises executive power. The Prime Minister is the leader of the party with the most seats in parliament. The Prime Minister selects Cabinet ministers and has the exclusive right to dismiss them. Cabinet nominees must appear before consultative open hearings before one or more parliamentary committees, survive a vote in the National Assembly, and be formally approved by the President. The cabinet is responsible to the parliament.
Since the fall of communism, Hungary has a multi-party system. A new Hungarian parliament was elected on 8 April 2018. This parliamentary election was the 8th since the 1990 first multi-party election. The result was a victory for Fidesz–KDNP alliance, preserving its two-thirds majority with Viktor Orbán remaining Prime Minister. It was the second election according to the new Constitution of Hungary which went into force on 1 January 2012. The new electoral law also entered into force that day. The voters elected 199 MPs instead of previous 386 lawmakers.[3][4]
In 2023, there are increasing concerns over the commitment of the Hungarian government towards democratic values. Credible sources, including Freedom House[5] and the European Parliament,[6] claim Hungary is no longer a democratic country. Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his leading politicians openly use racist arguments,[7] making the normalization of right-wing extremism a valid concern in case of Hungary.[8] Voicing hate speech or discriminatory language against marginalized groups, including but not limited to those based on race, religion, or sexual orientation, especially when presented in a humorous context, is often socially accepted in Hungary.[9]
List of cabinets since 1989:
| Governments of Hungary | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Government | Duration of Government | Prime minister | Parties Involved | ||||
| Németh | November 24, 1988 – May 23, 1990 | Miklós Németh (MSZP) | MSZP | ||||
| Antall | May 23, 1990 – December 12, 1993 | József Antall (MDF) | MDF, FKgP, KDNP | ||||
| Boross | December 12, 1993 – December 21, 1993 | Péter Boross (MDF) | MDF, EKgP, KDNP | ||||
| December 21, 1993 – July 15, 1994 | |||||||
| Horn | July 15, 1994 – July 6, 1998 | Gyula Horn (MSZP) | MSZP, SZDSZ | ||||
| Orbán I | July 6, 1998 – May 27, 2002 | Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) | Fidesz, FKgP, MDF | ||||
| Medgyessy | May 27, 2002 – September 29, 2004 | Péter Medgyessy (Ind.) | MSZP, SZDSZ | ||||
| Gyurcsány I | September 29, 2004 – June 9, 2006 | Ferenc Gyurcsány (MSZP) | |||||
| Gyurcsány II | June 9, 2006 – April 14, 2009 | Ferenc Gyurcsány (MSZP) | MSZP, SZDSZ | ||||
| Bajnai | April 14, 2009 – May 29, 2010 | Gordon Bajnai (Ind.) | MSZP | ||||
| Orbán II | May 29, 2010 – June 6, 2014 | Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) | Fidesz, KDNP | ||||
| Orbán III | June 6, 2014 – May 18, 2018 | Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) | Fidesz, KDNP | ||||
| Orbán IV | May 18, 2018 – May 24, 2022 | Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) | Fidesz, KDNP | ||||
| Orbán V | May 24, 2022 – present | Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) | Fidesz, KDNP | ||||
Notes | |||||||
| Traditional colours | |||||||
| Hungarian Socialist Party (Magyar Szocialista Párt, MSZP) | |||||||
| Hungarian Democratic Forum (Magyar Demokrata Fórum, MDF) | |||||||
| Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party (Független Kisgazda-, Földmunkás- és Polgári Párt, FKgP) United Smallholders' Party (Egyesült Történelmi Kisgazda és Polgári Párt, EKgP) | |||||||
| Christian Democratic People's Party (Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt, KDNP) | |||||||
| Alliance of Free Democrats (Szabad Demokraták Szövetsége, SZDSZ) | |||||||
| Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance (Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség, Fidesz) | |||||||
Current government
editFollowing the Hungarian parliamentary election, 2022, the current prime minister, Viktor Orbán is serving with his government since 24 May 2022.
| Name | Office | Party | Period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viktor Orbán | Prime Minister | Fidesz | 24.05.2022 - | |
| Zsolt Semjén | Deputy Prime Minister Minister without portfolio for National Politics |
KDNP | 24.05.2022 - | |
| Gergely Gulyás | Minister of the Prime Minister's Office | Fidesz | 24.05.2022 - | |
| Antal Rogán | Minister of the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office | Fidesz | 24.05.2022 - | |
| Márton Nagy | Minister for the National Economy | Independent | 01.01.2024 - | |
| Péter Szijjártó | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Fidesz | 24.05.2022 - | |
| János Lázár | Minister of Transport and Construction | Fidesz | 24.05.2022 - | |
| Sándor Pintér | Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Interior |
Independent | 24.05.2022 - | |
| Mihály Varga | Minister of Finance | Fidesz | 24.05.2022 - | |
| Bence Tuzson | Minister of Justice | Fidesz | 01.08.2023 - | |
| János Bóka | Minister of EU Affairs | Fidesz | 01.08.2023 - | |
| János Csák | Minister of Culture and Innovation | Independent | 24.05.2022 - | |
| István Nagy | Minister of Agriculture | Fidesz | 18.05.2018 - | |
| Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky | Minister of Defence | Independent | 24.05.2022 - | |
| Tibor Navracsics | Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development | Fidesz | 01.01.2024 - |
Government history, since 1990
editPrime ministers
editMinister of the Interior
edit
| Minister | In office | Party | Cabinet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balázs Horváth | 23.05.1990 - 21.12.1990 | MDF | Antall | |
| Péter Boross | 21.12.1990 - 21.12.1993 | MDF | ||
| Imre Kónya | 21.12.1993 - 15.07.1994 | MDF | Boross | |
| Gábor Kuncze | 15.07.1994 - 06.07.1998 | SZDSZ | Horn | |
| Sándor Pintér | 06.07.1998 - 27.05.2002 | Independent | Orbán I | |
| Mónika Lamperth | 27.05.2002 - 09.06.2006 | MSZP | Medgyessy, Gyurcsány I | |
| Sándor Pintér | 29.05.2010 - | Independent | Orbán II, Orbán III, Orbán IV, Orbán V | |
- Ministry of Local Government (2006-2010)
| Minister | In office | Party | Cabinet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mónika Lamperth | 09.06.2006 - 30.06.2007 | MSZP | Gyurcsány II | |
| Gordon Bajnai | 30.06.2007 - 30.04.2008 | Independent | ||
| István Gyenesei | 30.04.2008 - 14.04.2009 | Somogyért | ||
| Zoltán Varga | 14.04.2009 - 29.05.2010 | MSZP | Bajnai |
- Ministry of Justice and Law Enforcement (2006-2010)
| Minister | In office | Party | Cabinet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| József Petrétei | 09.06.2006 - 31.05.2007 | Independent | Gyurcsány II | |
| Albert Takács | 01.06.2007 - 17.02.2008 | Independent | ||
| Tibor Draskovics | 18.02.2008 - 14.12.2009 | Independent | Gyurcsány II, Bajnai | |
| Imre Forgács | 14.12.2009 - 29.05.2010 | Independent | Bajnai |
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
edit
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyarország külügyminisztere) is a member of the Hungarian cabinet and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The current foreign minister is Péter Szijjártó.
| Minister | In office | Party | Cabinet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Géza Jeszenszky | 23.05.1990 - 15.07.1994 | MDF | Antall, Boross | |
| László Kovács | 15.07.1994 - 08.07.1998 | MSZP | Horn | |
| János Martonyi | 08.07.1998 - 27.05.2002 | Independent | Orbán I | |
| László Kovács | 27.05.2002 - 01.11.2004 | MSZP | Medgyessy, Gyurcsány I | |
| Ferenc Somogyi | 01.11.2004 - 09.06.2006 | Independent | Gyurcsány I | |
| Kinga Göncz | 09.06.2006 - 14.04.2009 | Independent | Gyurcsány II | |
| Péter Balázs | 14.04.2009 - 29.05.2010 | Independent | Bajnai | |
| János Martonyi | 29.05.2010 - 06.06.2014 | Fidesz | Orbán II | |
| Tibor Navracsics | 06.06.2014 - 23.09.2014 | Fidesz | Orbán III | |
| Péter Szijjártó | 23.09.2014 - | Fidesz | Orbán III, Orbán IV, Orbán V |
Minister of Finance
edit
The Minister of Finance of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyarország pénzügyminisztere) is a member of the Hungarian cabinet and the head of the Ministry of Finance. The current minister of Finance is Mihály Varga.
| Minister | In office | Party | Cabinet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of Finance | ||||
| Ferenc Rabár | 23.05.1990 - 19.12.1990 | Independent | Antall | |
| Mihály Kupa | 20.12.1990 - 11.02.1993 | MDF | ||
| Iván Szabó | 24.02.1993 - 15.07.1994 | MDF | Antall, Boross | |
| László Békesi | 15.07.1994 - 28.02.1995 | MSZP | Horn | |
| Lajos Bokros | 01.03.1995 - 29.02.1996 | MSZP | ||
| Péter Medgyessy | 01.03.1996 - 07.07.1998 | Independent | ||
| Zsigmond Járai | 08.07.1998 - 31.12.2000 | Fidesz | Orbán I | |
| Mihály Varga | 01.01.2001 - 27.05.2002 | Fidesz | ||
| Csaba László | 27.05.2002 - 15.02.2004 | MSZP | Medgyessy | |
| Tibor Draskovics | 15.02.2004 - 24.04.2005 | Independent | Medgyessy, Gyurcsány I | |
| János Veres | 24.04.2005 - 16.04.2009 | MSZP | Gyurcsány I, Gyurcsány II | |
| Péter Oszkó | 16.04.2009 - 29.05.2010 | Independent | Bajnai | |
| Minister of Finance | ||||
| György Matolcsy | 29.05.2010 - 07.03.2013 | Fidesz | Orbán II | |
| Mihály Varga | 07.03.2013 - | Fidesz | Orbán II, Orbán III, Orbán IV, Orbán V | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Website of the Government of Hungary". Government of Hungary. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ "Fundamental Law of Hungary (Article 15)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-29. Retrieved 2014-12-08.
- ^ Az országgyűlési képviselők választásáról szóló 2011. évi CCIII. törvény. In.: Magyar Közlöny. 2011. évi, 165. sz., 41095-41099. p.
- ^ "Életbe lép az új választójogi törvény". Magyar Nemzet (in Hungarian). 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Gehrke, Laurenz. "Hungary no longer a democracy, Freedom House says". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "MEPs: Hungary can no longer be considered a full democracy | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ RFE/RL. "European Parliament Leaders Condemn Orban For 'Openly Racist' Remarks". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "Antisemitic and Racist Statements by Hungarian Political Leaders" (PDF). human rights first. December 2015. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Bekesi, Aron B. (2023). "The Paradox of Anti-Democratic Arguments: aDefense of Democratic Principles in Debates". Science & Philosophy. 11 (2): 94.