Third Republic .28since 1989.29 History of Hungary

1 third republic (since 1989)

1.1 economic reform
1.2 first orbán government: 1998-2002
1.3 mszp: 2002-2010
1.4 second orbán government: 2010-present

third republic (since 1989)

the first free parliamentary election, held in may 1990, plebiscite on communism. revitalized , reformed communists performed poorly despite having more usual advantages of incumbent party. populist, center-right, , liberal parties fared best, hungarian democratic forum (mdf) winning 43% of vote , alliance of free democrats (szdsz) capturing 24%. under prime minister józsef antall, mdf formed center-right coalition government independent smallholders party (fkgp) , christian democratic people s party (kdnp) command 60% majority in parliament. parliamentary opposition parties included szdsz, hungarian socialist party (mszp), , alliance of young democrats (fidesz).

withdrawal of soviet troops hungary, 1 july 1990

between 12 march 1990 , 19 june 1991 soviet troops ( southern army group ) left hungary. total number of soviet military , civilian personnel stationed in hungary around 100,000, having @ disposal approximately 27,000 military equipment. withdrawal performed 35,000 railway cars. last units commanded general viktor silov crossed hungarian-ukrainian border @ záhony-chop.

péter boross succeeded prime minister after antall died in december 1993. antall/boross coalition governments struggled create reasonably well-functioning parliamentary democracy in market-economy, , manage related political, social , economic crises resulting collapse of former communist system. massive decline in living standards led massive loss of political support.

in may 1994 election, socialists won plurality of votes , 54% of seats (with new prime minister, gyula horn) after campaign focused largely on economic issues , substantial decline in living standards since 1990. signaled wish turn relative security , stability of socialist era, voters rejected both right , left-wing extremist solutions – no such party gained seats in parliament. after disappointing result in election, leadership of fidesz party opted ideological shift liberal conservative party. caused severe split in membership , many members left other liberal party, szdsz, formed coalition socialists, leading more two-thirds majority.

economic reform

hungarian stamp 2010

the coalition influenced socialism of prime minister gyula horn, economic focus of technocrats (who had been western-educated in 1970s , 1980s) , ex-cadre entrepreneur supporters, , liberal coalition partner szdsz. facing threat of state bankruptcy, horn initiated economic reforms , aggressive privatization of state enterprises multinational companies in return expectations of investment (in form of reconstruction, expansion , modernization). socialist-liberal government adopted fiscal austerity program, bokros package in 1995, had dramatic consequences social stability , quality of life. government introduced post-secondary tuition fees, partially privatized state services, supported science both directly , indirectly, through private sector. government pursued foreign policy of integration euro-atlantic institutions , reconciliation neighboring countries. critics argued policies of ruling coalition more right-wing of previous right-wing government had been.

the bokros package , efforts @ privatizations unpopular voters, rising crime rates, allegations of government corruption, , attempt restart unpopular program of building dam on danube. dissatisfaction among voters helped propel center-right parties power following national elections in may 1998. fidesz gained plurality of parliamentary seats , forged coalition smallholders , democratic forum.

first orbán government: 1998-2002

the new government, headed 35-year-old young reformist fidesz s leader, new prime minister viktor orbán, promised stimulate faster growth, curb inflation, , lower taxes. inherited economy positive economic indicators, including growing export-surplus. government abolished tuition fees , aimed create market conditions small businesses , encourage local production domestic resources. in terms of foreign policy, orbán administration continued pursue euro-atlantic integration first priority, more vocal advocate of minority rights ethnic hungarians abroad previous government had been. result of 1997 referendum, hungary joined nato in 1999. in 2002, european union agreed admit hungary, along 9 other countries, members on 1 january 2004.

fidesz criticized adversaries party s presentation of history, particularly 1989 fall of communism. while fidesz had suggested socialist party moral , legal successor hated state party of communist past, socialists assert had been had pushed change within, derided fidesz members crediting sole creators , heirs of fall of communism.

in 2002 election mszp/szdsz left-wing coalition narrowly beat fidesz/mdf right-wing coalition in fierce political fight, record-high 73% voter turnout. péter medgyessy became new prime minister.

mszp: 2002-2010

under socialist-liberal government, economic balance of hungarian economy started free fall, while quality of life, infrastructure , technology improved. on 12 april 2003, hungarians voted join european union (eu), 83% of votes in favor. since eu had accepted hungary possible member, 4 leading political parties (mszp, fidesz, szdsz , mdf) agreed establish required prerequisites , policies , work prepare country accession least possible harm economy , people while maximizing positive effects on country. on 1 may 2004 hungary became member of eu.

ferenc gyurcsány in 2006.

in elections of april 2006, hungary decided re-elect government first time since 1989, though new prime minister, ferenc gyurcsány. left strengthened position, coalition of social democrats (mszp) , liberals (szdsz) reaching 54 percent of vote , winning 210 seats opposed previous 198. parties of previous legislature (fidesz, mdf, szdsz, mszp) again won parliamentary seats. new parliament assembled in late may 2006, , new government formed in june 2006.

the new government presented plans reach balance , sustainable economic growth removing subsidies growth of standard of living, had not mentioned during electoral campaign. leaked speech followed mass protests against gyurcsány government between 17 september , 23 october 2006. first sustained protest in hungary since 1989. 2007, when increased inflation caused tax increases reduced standard of living, complete restructuring of state administration, energy sector, relations private business, health sector , social welfare took place. members of affected professional unions describe measures lacking discussion , uncompromising. country joined schengen area @ end of 2007.

in 2008, coalition broke on disagreement whether insurance side of health sector should state-owned , policies decided state (as preferred socialists) or private companies (as preferred liberals). conflict followed successful public referendum, initiated fidesz, calling abolition of university tuition fees, direct payments insured patients on receiving medical attention, , daily fees @ hospital insured patients. stopped restructuring of health care, while remained publicly owned. because of liberals left coalition , on socialists governed minority.

the 2008 financial crisis caused further budgetary constraints. after gyurcsány s resignation, socialists put forward government of experts under gordon bajnai in march 2009, make essential macroeconomic decisions.

in first round of 2010 spring general elections, right-wing fidesz received 2.704 million votes, i.e. votes of 33.69% of 8.026 million eligible voters or 52.73% of 5.128 million actual voters party lists, resulted in more two-thirds of seats in parliament. fidesz took 263 seats, socialists 59, radical, far right nationalist jobbik 47, , newly founded lehet más politika (politics can different) 16, 1 seat taken independent. in autumn municipal elections, fidesz achieved majority in local , mayoral elections, winning traditional strongholds of liberal parties.

second orbán government: 2010-present

viktor orbán, prime minister of hungary (1998-2002, 2010-present)

viktor orbán s led fidesz adapted new constitution of hungary. main goal of government restart economic growth. introduced flat tax system income tax, 16% everyone.

prime minister viktor orbán discarded idea of welfare state, stated hungarian economy must work-based economy. 2014 significant improvements made in decreasing unemployment (from 11.4% in 2010 7.1% in 2014) , generating economic growth (reaching 3.5% in 2014, top value among eu member states). growth has been unequal: wealth of top 20% of society grew significantly, while ratio of people living below poverty line increased 33% in 2010 40% in 2014. government centralized education system, , started multiple-year-long program increasing salaries of teachers , health professionals.

in parliamentary elections of spring 2014, fidesz again won supermajority, one-mp margin. in february 2015, by-election held in city of veszprém, opposition-nominated mp elected, fidesz lost supermajority.

in autumn of 2014 fidesz government planned tax use of internet based on traffic had withdraw plan because of demonstrations , outrage. dropping popularity of fidesz stopped in summer of 2015 when party started vehement anti-immigrant campaign building fence on borders. in first months of 2016 new demonstrations started against government, time teachers.