Constitutional Background

History and News

• 2004: Act No. CIV amends the Constitution.
• Aug/Sep 2004: Medgyessy resigned; Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány.
• May 2004: Hungary became a member of the EU.
• 2003: Act No. CIX amends the Constitution.
• 2003: Referendum on accession to the EU (83,76% - Yes)
• 2002: Negotiations for accession in the EU successfully concluded.
• Apr 2002: Parliamentary elections, won by the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP). Coalition government with the Liberal-Democrats (SzDSz), headed by Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy.
• 2002: Act No. LXI amends the Constitution.
• 2001: Act No. XLII amends the Constitution.
• Aug 2000: Ferenc Mádl elected as President by the Parliament, for a five year term.
• 2000: Act No. XCI amends the Constitution.
• March 1999: Hungary became full member of NATO.
• Nov 1998: Accession negotiations with EU begins.
• May 1998: Parliamentary elections, won by the Hungarian Civic Alliance (FIDESZ-MPP), which forms a coalition with the Independent Smallholders' Party (FKgP) and Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
• March 1998: First (screening) phase of EU accession negotiations begins.
• Dec 1997: Hungary invited to begin accession negotiations with the European Union at the European Council meeting in Luxembourg. Protocol of Accession to NATO signed.
• 1997: Act No. LIX and Act No. XCVIII amends the Constitution.
• 19 June 1995: Hungary's President  is re-elected for another five-year term. His office carries nearly not much power.
• 1995: Act No. XLIV amends the Constitution.
• Apr 1994: Hungay applies for EU accession.
• May 1994: Second free elections, won by the Hungarian Socialist Party. Coalition formed with the Alliance of Free Democrats, under Prime Minister Gyula Horn.
• 1994: Act No. LXI, Act No. LXXIII and Act No. LXXIV amends the Constitution.
• 1993: Act No. CVII amends the Constitution.
• Dec 1991: Association Agreement signed with the EC (in force since 1 February 1994).
• Nov 1990: Hungary joins the Council of Europe.
• March/Apr 1990: First free elections after 45 years, and the victory of the conservative Hungarian Democratic Forum. Cabinet under Prime Minister József Antall.
• 1990: Act No. XVI, Act No. XXIX, Act No. XL, Act No. XLIV, Act No. LIV and Act No. LXIII amends the Constitution.
• 1989: Fundamental amendments to the 1949 Constitution. The Act No. XXXI. transforms, basically, the Stalinist Constitution in a new fundamental law, establishing the rule of law and democracy.
• Sep 1989: Hungary opens its borders to Germans from the GDR.
• 1988: The transition period from communism towards democracy began.
• 1956: Popular uprising, which gradually turned into a revolution, broke out against the communist regime. The revolution was crushed by Soviet troops. In 1958, Imre Nagy was executed.
• 20 Aug 1949: The Hungarian Constitution [The Act No. XX from 1949], based on the 1936 Soviet fundamental law, is adopted.  The Constitution gives the formal basis of Communist Dictature.