political system of hungary 2

The Political System of The Political System of HungaryHungary

InstitutionsInstitutions

What is a ”political system”What is a ”political system”

• A political system is a A political system is a complete set complete set of institutionsof institutions, interest groups (such , interest groups (such as political parties, trade unions, lobby as political parties, trade unions, lobby groups), groups), the relationships between the relationships between those institutionsthose institutions and the and the political political norms and rules that govern their norms and rules that govern their functionsfunctions (constitution, election law). (constitution, election law).

What is an institution?What is an institution?

• ””an organization founded and united an organization founded and united for a specific purposefor a specific purpose””

• a custom that for a long time has a custom that for a long time has been an important feature of some been an important feature of some group or society; "the institution of group or society; "the institution of marriage"; "the institution of marriage"; "the institution of slavery"; "he had become an slavery"; "he had become an institution in the theater„institution in the theater„

Most important political Most important political institutions in the Hungarian institutions in the Hungarian political systempolitical system1.1. GovernmentGovernment

2.2. ParliamentParliament

3.3. PresidentPresident

4.4. Constitutional CourtConstitutional Court

5.5. OmbudsmanOmbudsman

6.6. Municipalities (local government)Municipalities (local government)

7.7. Political partiesPolitical parties

The GovernmentThe GovernmentHow do you become Prime Minister?How do you become Prime Minister?

First step:First step: you are the candidate of the political party that you are the candidate of the political party that gets the most votes at the elections.gets the most votes at the elections.

Second step:Second step: the President appoints you (this has been the President appoints you (this has been tradition since 1990) as Prime Ministertradition since 1990) as Prime Minister**

Third step:Third step: you draw up your political programme as PM (a you draw up your political programme as PM (a speech in Parliamentspeech in Parliament

Fourth step:Fourth step: Parliament votes about you and your Parliament votes about you and your programme and elects you with a 50%+1 vote majority programme and elects you with a 50%+1 vote majority (194 votes). (194 votes).

**the President may appoint anybody s/he prefers, but this would go against the President may appoint anybody s/he prefers, but this would go against tradition and Parliament could override him/her.tradition and Parliament could override him/her.

The GovernmentThe Government

What do you do once you are the Prime What do you do once you are the Prime Minister?Minister?

Step 1: Step 1: You select your You select your cabinetcabinet → the Ministers → the Ministers in your government. (the President appoints in your government. (the President appoints them – pure formality)them – pure formality)

Step 2Step 2: You run the country → you coordinate : You run the country → you coordinate the the executive branchexecutive branch of the political system of the political system


What do you do as a government?What do you do as a government?you are responsible for: you are responsible for: ensuring that the laws of the country are implementedensuring that the laws of the country are implemented coordinating the ministriescoordinating the ministries controlling the functioning of the local governmentscontrolling the functioning of the local governments scientific and cultural development,scientific and cultural development, social care and health care systemssocial care and health care systems public order (coordination of armed forces and the public order (coordination of armed forces and the

police, taking action in the case of a natural disaster, police, taking action in the case of a natural disaster, etc.)etc.)

foreign policy (international contracts, representing foreign policy (international contracts, representing Hungary in the EU)Hungary in the EU)


When does a new government have to be When does a new government have to be formed?formed?

After a new Parliament has been electedAfter a new Parliament has been elected If the Prime Minister diesIf the Prime Minister dies If the Prime Minister loses his right to vote If the Prime Minister loses his right to vote

(commits a crime, treason, etc.)(commits a crime, treason, etc.) If the Prime Minister resignsIf the Prime Minister resigns If the parliament elects a new Prime Minsister If the parliament elects a new Prime Minsister

through a through a constructive vote of no constructive vote of no confidenceconfidence


What is a constructive vote of no confidene?What is a constructive vote of no confidene? At least 20% of the MPs say they do not want George George as At least 20% of the MPs say they do not want George George as

Prime Minister anymore Prime Minister anymore →→ they submit a constructive motion of they submit a constructive motion of no confidence:no confidence: No confidence, because they have no confidence in George GeorgeNo confidence, because they have no confidence in George George Constructive, because they have to name their own candidate for Constructive, because they have to name their own candidate for

Prime Minister – Peter Peter.Prime Minister – Peter Peter.

The Parliament votes The Parliament votes →→ if they accept the motion of no confidence (50%+1), then Peter Peter if they accept the motion of no confidence (50%+1), then Peter Peter

automatically becomes Prime Ministerautomatically becomes Prime Minister If they don’t, George George remains Prime MinisterIf they don’t, George George remains Prime Minister

The ParliamentThe Parliament

Roles of Parliament:Roles of Parliament: Making laws (including the Constitution)Making laws (including the Constitution) Foreign policy: concluding the most Foreign policy: concluding the most

important contracts (e.g.: contract about important contracts (e.g.: contract about Hungary’s accession to the EU, deciding Hungary’s accession to the EU, deciding about starting a war or concluding a about starting a war or concluding a peace treaty.)peace treaty.)

Controlling the Government (questioning, Controlling the Government (questioning, motions of no confidence, accepting the motions of no confidence, accepting the budget)budget)


The structure of the ParliamentThe structure of the Parliament

1.1. CommitteesCommittees: not public, this is where : not public, this is where proposals for laws are discussed. This is proposals for laws are discussed. This is a professional forum helping legislation.a professional forum helping legislation.

2.2. The plenary sessionThe plenary session: public, this is : public, this is where the debates are held and the where the debates are held and the laws are accepted or rejected, this is laws are accepted or rejected, this is where the government can be where the government can be questioned. questioned.


Who can propose a law?Who can propose a law?

1.1. GovernmentGovernment

2.2. PresidentPresident

3.3. Any Member of ParliamentAny Member of Parliament

4.4. Parliamentary CommittesParliamentary Committes


Bills submitted in Parliament

48%

21%

31%0%

Government

Committe

MP

President

Success rate of bills submitted

87%73%

16%

100%

0%

20%40%

60%80%

100%120%

Gover

nmen

t

Comm

itte M

P

Presid

ent

The PresidentThe President

Elected for 5 years!Elected for 5 years!

Election process:Election process:

Round 1: In Parliament, with a two-thirds majority (66,66%)Round 1: In Parliament, with a two-thirds majority (66,66%)Round 2: In Parliament, with a two-thirds majority (66,66%)Round 2: In Parliament, with a two-thirds majority (66,66%)Round 3: In Parliament, with a 50%+1 majority.Round 3: In Parliament, with a 50%+1 majority.

Result: the political parties in government are usually able to elect the Result: the political parties in government are usually able to elect the President President → s/he is not an indepenent person and has limited → s/he is not an indepenent person and has limited legitimacy.legitimacy.

The The PresidentPresident

The roles of the President:The roles of the President:

Foreign policy (represents the country)Foreign policy (represents the country) Setting the dates for electionsSetting the dates for elections handing out awards and medalshanding out awards and medals

+ s/he can propose a bill in Parliament and appoints + s/he can propose a bill in Parliament and appoints

the Prime Minister after an election.the Prime Minister after an election.

The The Constitutional Constitutional

CourtCourt

• The Constitutional Court is responsible for making sure that the constitution of Hungary is not violated by a certain law or government action.

• It has 11 members, elected by Parliament (two-thirds majority) for 9 years.

The The OmbudsmanOmbudsman

The word comes from Swedish, The word comes from Swedish, meaning: representativemeaning: representative

The Ombudsman safeguards the rights The Ombudsman safeguards the rights of the citizens and assists them when of the citizens and assists them when the state make laws or steps that harm the state make laws or steps that harm them.them.

There are currently 3 Ombudsman in There are currently 3 Ombudsman in Hungary:Hungary:1.1. Ombudsman for Ombudsman for Data Protection and Data Protection and

Freedom of Information (-)Freedom of Information (-)2.2. Ombudsman for Ombudsman for National and Ethnic National and Ethnic

Minorities’ Rights (Ernő Kállai)Minorities’ Rights (Ernő Kállai)3.3. Ombudsman for Ombudsman for Civil Rights (Máté Civil Rights (Máté

Szabó)Szabó)

+ + there will soon be anthere will soon be an Ombudsman for Ombudsman for the future generationsthe future generations

Key data to rememberKey data to remember

Prime Minister of Hungary: Prime Minister of Hungary:

Ferenc Gyurcsány Ferenc Gyurcsány

President of Hungary:

László Sólyom

political system of hungary 2

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