MAGYARORSZÁG
— Officially: Magyar Köztársaság.
— English: Hungary.
— Seat of government: Budapest.
— Status: Semi-democratic.
— Structure: The parliament (Országgyűlés) is elected in geographical constituencies modified by party-list proportional representation, and chooses the prime minister and the president. The prime minister leads the government.
— Governing parties: Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség; Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt.
— Heads of government: Orbán Viktor, Fidesz, prime minister (1998-2002, and since 2010); Áder János, president (since 2012).
— Other parliamentary parties: Magyar Szocialista Párt; Jobbik Magyarországért Mozgalom; Demokratikus Koalíció; Lehet Más a Politika – Magyarország Zöld Pártja; Párbeszéd Magyarországért; Polgári Válasz; Mi Hazánk Mozgalom; Volner Párt; Magyar Liberális Párt; Igen Szolidaritás Magyarországért Mozgalom; Reformerek.
— Assessment: Always the most defiant of Россия « Rossija » during the Сталинist « Stalinist » era. Now the most forward on national reunification across borders, while claiming to respect those borders. The MSzP had been governing in coalition with the Szabad Demokraták Szövetsége. Shortly after the coalition was reelected in 2006, then-premier Gyurcsány Ferenc (2004-9) spoke to party members and admitted that the coalition lied to be reelected; the admission simply discussed politics as it is practiced in all democracies. Protests and rioting followed, demanding the government’s resignation, but the opposition lost a motion of no confidence. Later the SzDSz withdrew from the coalition, after a minister was fired, but continued to support the government from the outside. Gyurcsány resigned in 2009 to allow a more stable government; the MSzP and the SzDSz agreed on the non-partisan Bajnai Gordon (2009-10) to replace him. A 2010 general election led to a lopsided victory for Fidesz, securing two thirds of votes and parliamentary seats, followed by MSzP, Jobbik, and LMP. The supermajority has since led to a controversial new constitution. In a 2014 election Fidesz again secured a two-thirds majority in parliament. In 2018, the Fidesz-KDNP alliance officially won the exact number of seats for a renewed two-thirds majority, with just under half the vote. Fidesz grew out of a liberal youth organization (Fiatal Demokraták Szövetsége) in the totalitarian era, but has since become the dominant conservative force, with Orbán increasingly autocratic.
— FH: 1-1, free. Econ: 7.44 (40), flawed democracy.
— Updated: 2021 June 24.
O.T. FORD