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Parliament name (generic / translated) Országgyülés / National Assembly More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1889 - 1950 1954 - LEADERSHIP President László Kövér (M)  Notes Sworn in on 6 Aug. 2010. Secretary General István Soltész (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 386 / 386 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 34 (8.81%) Mode of designation directly elected 386 Term 4 years Last renewal dates 11 April 2010 25 April 2010 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Magyar Országgyülés Kossuth tér 1-3 1357 BUDAPEST (Export mailing lists) Phone (361) 441 43 44 441 50 67 Fax (361) 441 41 83 441 59 72 E-mail ipu@parlament.hu Website http://www.parlament.hu

Parliament name (generic / translated) Országgyülés / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 30 October 1989 Last amendment: 16.07.2005 Mode of designation directly elected 386 Constituencies - 176 single-member constituencies - 20 territorial multi-member constituencies (returning 146 Deputies) (the remaining 64 Deputies are chosen from "national lists" of candidates) Voting system Mixed: Two-round system in single member constituencies: Each elector casts two votes, one for an individual candidate and one for a party list. If, within the constituency, no candidate obtains an absolute majority of the votes in the first round, or if less than half of the registered electors have voted, a second round is held. In the latter case (fewer than half of the voters), all candidates may run again; the one then obtaining the most votes is declared elected, provided that at least 25% of the constituency's electorate has voted. In the former case (no absolute majority for any individual), all candidates having gained at least 15% of the valid votes may run again; if this number is only one or two, the three having obtained the most first ballot votes are entitled to continue. In either event, the candidate with the most votes is then declared elected, provided that at least 25% of the constituency's electorate has voted. Proportional representation in territorial constituencies: Proportional representation (simple electoral quotient) in a single ballot, unless voter participation falls below 50%. Parties polling less than 5% of the popular vote do not gain a parliamentary seat through this system. National constituency: 64 seats are allotted to political parties on a full proportional basis according to "scrap votes", i.e. those cast for previously unsuccessful constituency candidates or lists, added together to form a national total. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by elections (in single member constituencies), while vacancies of territorial or national list seats are filled by the party concerned from among the candidates figuring on its original list. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Hungarian citizenship including naturalized citizens - residence in Hungary at the time of election - disqualifications: insanity/mental illness, guardianship, holders of temporary entry permits, undocumented immigrants, persons barred from public affairs by court decision, imprisonment, institutional medical care pursuant to criminal procedure CANDIDATES Eligibility - qualified electors - age: 18 years - Hungarian citizenship including naturalized citizens - ineligibilities: insanity/mental illness, guardianship, holders of temporary entry permits, undocumented immigrants, persons barred from public affairs by court decision, imprisonment, institutional medical care pursuant to criminal procedure Incompatibilities - President of the Republic - members of the Constitutional Court - certain other public or state offices - judges - membership of the armed, police or security forces Candidacy requirements - party or independent candidatures - support of at least 750 electors is required per candidature (for single-member constituencies) - candidates' names appear on party lists (in territorial constituencies) - territorial lists are reserved for parties having nominated candidates in a defined number of the single-member constituencies of a specific territory - national lists are reserved for parties contesting seats in at least seven territorial constituencies - each party's territorial or national list may contain triple the number of candidates as seats to be filled; multiple-level individual candidatures are possible.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Országgyülés / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) 11 April 2010 25 April 2010 Timing and scope of renewal Elections were held for all the seats in the National Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. On 22 January 2010, President László Sólyom announced that parliamentary elections would be held on 11 and 25 April. The 2010 elections were the first to be held following the global economic crisis, which severely hit the country of 10 million inhabitants. In the previous elections held in April 2006, the ruling coalition, the Hungarian Socialist Party- Alliance of Free Democrats (MSZP-SZDSZ), led by the then Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany (MSZP), won 210 of the 386 seats at stake, becoming the first government to be returned to office since the collapse of the communist regime in 1990. Its main rival, the Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP), won 164 seats. The Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) and the Association for Somogy County (Somogyért) took 11 seats and one seat respectively. Shortly after the 2006 elections, the government's popularity was severely damaged due to a leaked tape recording in which Prime Minister Gyurcsany admitted that his party had lied about the state of the economy to win the 2006 elections. That triggered a two-week riot and demands for his government to resign. The country enjoyed high economic growth until the global economic crisis hit in late 2008. The country avoided bankruptcy thanks to a 20-billion-euro international bail-out from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Union. However, the government failed to push through measures to revive the economy, and Prime Minister Gyurcsany resigned in March 2009. The then Minister of the Economy, Mr. Gordon Bajnai (MSZP), agreed to take over the post until the 2010 elections provided the National Assembly passed the stringent economic measures required under the bail-out. His government's austerity programme included tax rises and salary and pension cuts. The unemployment rate remained high - nearly 11 per cent in March 2010. The MSZP was further damaged by a series of corruption scandals involving its members and officials. Consequently, the FIDESZ-KDNP - led by former prime minister Viktor Orbán - was leading in the 2010 election polls. Other major contenders included the Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik), a right wing party, and Politics Can Be Different (LMP), a green-liberal party founded in February 2009. The FIDESZ-KDNP campaigned under the slogan "The time has come!" ("Itt az ido!). It promised to create 1 million jobs over 10 years, boost lending, support small business and cut taxes. The Jobbik, founded in 2003, is known for its anti-Roma and anti-Semitic rhetoric. It won nearly 15 per cent of the votes in the European Parliament elections in June 2009. The Jobbik leader Gabor Vona argued that "Hungary belongs to the Hungarians". In 2007, the Jobbik established the Hungarian Guard, whose members don uniforms similar to those worn by the country's pre-World War II fascist Arrow Cross Party. Mr. Vona pledged to wear the uniform of the Hungarian Guard on his first day in parliament. The Jobbik's participation in the 2010 elections caused much controversy. The FIDESZ-KDNP said it would never enter into a coalition with the Jobbik. Prime Minister Bajnai (MSZP), who was not running in the 2010 polls, urged moderate parties to unite against extremists. He argued that the Jobbik would demolish Hungarian democracy, publicly labelling it "the monster". The media focused on a possible power shift and the emergence of the extremist force in the National Assembly. The MSZP endorsed Mr. Attila Mesterházy, a 36-year-old economist, as its candidate for Prime Minister. One of the LMP leaders, Mr. Andras Schiffer, pledged to deliver a "green revolution" comprising not only environmental protection goals, but also solutions to employment problems. The LMP also promised to restore hope in public affairs, focusing on transparent, anti-corruption policies in order to renew Hungarian democracy. Despite being a newcomer, the LMP was reportedly gaining ground thanks to its motivated activists. In the first round of the elections held on 11 April, 64.38 per cent of the 8 million registered voters turned out at the polls. A total of 265 out of 386 members were elected in the first round. The FIDESZ-KDNP won a resounding victory, winning 206 of the 265 confirmed seats in the first round. It swept all 119 seats elected from the single-member constituencies. The MSZP came in a distant second, winning only 28 seats. The Jobbik came in third with 26 seats, entering parliament for the first time. The LMP won five seats. The MDF failed to surpass the five-per-cent threshold. Its leader, Ms. Ibolya David, announced that she would resign. In the second round held on 25 April, the FIDESZ-KDNP won an additional 57 seats, thus controlling 263 in the 386-member National Assembly. The MSZP and the Jobbik won a total of 59 and 47 seats respectively. The LMP followed with 16 seats while one independent candidate took the remainder. In all, 35 women were elected. On 14 May, the newly elected National Assembly held its first session and elected Mr. Pál Schmitt (FIDESZ), a former vice-president of the European Parliament, as its new Speaker. On the same day, President László Sólyom proposed to the National Assembly Mr. Viktor Orbán as new Prime Minister. On 29 May, Mr. Viktor Orbán (FIDESZ) was sworn in as the new Prime Minister. His FIDESZ-KNDP led the first non-coalition government since the return to multi-party elections in 1990. On 29 June, the National Assembly elected Speaker Schmitt (FIDESZ) as the country's President. He was sworn in on 6 August and was replaced by Mr. László Kövér of the same party. STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 11 April 2010 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 8'034'394 5'172'222 (64.38%) Notes Round no 2 25 April 2010 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 2'486'111 1'160'117 (46.66%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes Single-member votes Territorial votes % of votes Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) 5'439'257 2'732'965 2'706'292 Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) 2'078'802 1'088'374 990'428 Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) 1'692'210 836'774 855'436 Politics Can Be Different (LMP) 643'096 259'220 383'876 Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) - Entrepreneurs' Party 10'661 10'661 0 Independents 381 381 0 Round no 2 Political group Candidates Votes Single-member votes Territorial votes % of votes Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) 620'232 Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) 326'361 Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) 141'415 Politics Can Be Different (LMP) 43'437 Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) - Entrepreneurs' Party 8'796 Independents 0 Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Single-member seats Territorial seats National seats 2nd round total Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) 206 119 87 0 Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) 28 0 28 0 Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) 26 0 26 0 Politics Can Be Different (LMP) 5 0 5 0 Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) - Entrepreneurs' Party 0 0 0 0 Independents 0 0 0 0 Round no 2 Political Group Total of seats Single-member seats Territorial seats National seats 2nd round total Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) 262 53 0 3 56 Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) 59 2 0 29 31 Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) 47 0 0 21 21 Politics Can Be Different (LMP) 16 0 0 11 11 Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) - Entrepreneurs' Party 1 1 0 0 1 Independents 1 1 0 0 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 351 35 9.07% Distribution of seats according to age 21 to 30 years 31 to 40 years 41 to 50 years 51 to 60 years 61 to 70 years Over 70 years Unknown 22 82 127 115 30 9 1 Distribution of seats according to profession Political party official Civil service and local authority administration Education profession Others Legal profession Entrepreneur Physician, dentist Civil society activity Agriculture/farming Economist Architect, surveyor, engineer Journalism, broadcasting, media Research/sciences International civil servant Writer, literary, artist Home-maker, care-taker Clerical, secretarial, administration Finance, management or business 109 102 32 29 29 23 12 10 8 7 6 5 5 3 2 2 1 1 Comments Sources: - National Assembly (04.05.2010, 04.03.2011, 01.04.2011, 24.01.2012) - http://www.valasztas.hu

Parliament name (generic / translated) Országgyülés / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the National Assembly Term - duration: 4 years (term of House); elected on 18 June 1998 - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, dissolution of the Parliament, incompatibility (performing other earning profession or public office) declared by the Parliament, loss of mandate according to the relevant law, death Appointment elected by all Members of the Assembly during the sitting of the Parliament and after the Members' mandates are validated, and after they are sworn in Eligibility - any member may be candidate (the candidature is proposed by the senior Chairman on the basis of the motion of the faction leaders) and a formal notification is required - notification of candidatures are submitted at the constituent meeting before the election Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot - one round of voting, except when the candidate does not have the required majority - if there are many candidates, only the two who have obtained the largest number of votes may be elected - the process is then repeated until one Member obtains a majority Procedures / results - the most senior Member of Parliament presides over the Assembly during the voting - the most senior Member supervises the voting and the four youngest members count the votes - the most senior Member announces the results after the counting of the votes - the Parliament is entitled to challenge the results STATUS Status - ranks second after the Head of State - represents the Assembly with the public authorities - represents the Parliament in international bodies - is ex officio chairman of the House Committee and of the Meeting of Committee Chairmen - is member of the Defence Council - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers can assume his/her role and functions Board - the House Committee of the Parliament is regulated by Standing Orders of the Parliament - is composed of the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers and the faction leaders (10 members) whose term of office corresponds to the term of House - meetings are convened by the President, but any faction leader can request it Material facilities - monthly allowance FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - proposes the programme and agenda on which the Parliament decides - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments, but the Parliament may decide to refuse his/her proposals - nominates the standing committee which gives opinion on the bill or other motion, on the proposal of the Meeting Committee Chairmen - proposes the setting up of committees of enquiries Chairing of public sittings - opens, adjourns and closes sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Assembly, with the Clerk from time to time - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates, with the Clerk - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly, with the House Committee - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates, Special powers - approves the draft budget of the Parliament - appoints and dissmisses the senior officers of the Parliament - represents the Parliament in the conduct of foreign affairs or defence, as a member of the Defence Council - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for security, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates, as a member of the Assembly, the Deputy Speaker chairing the sitting on this occasion - provides exceptionally guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion - takes part in voting, but only in the event of equality of votes - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure in his capacity of Member - signs the laws together with the President of the Republic - gives his opinion to the Head of State in the event of dissolution of the Parliament, emergency, hostility and declaration of war, if the Parliament is prevented from working

Parliament name (generic / translated) Országgyülés / National Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral NATURE Nature of the mandate · Free representation (Art. 20 (2) of the Constitution of 20.08.1949, with amendments up to and including 1997, SO 13 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) Start of the mandate · When the MPs take the oath (Art. 28 (1) of the Constitution, SO 8 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary). Procedure (SO 2 to 8 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) Validation of mandates · Validation by the chair of age (oldest Member) and the notaries of age (the four youngest Members), and a committee of five Members, or the Committee on Immunity, Incompatibility and Scrutiny of Mandates (SO 6 and 7 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) · Procedure (SO 6 and 7 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) End of the mandate · On the day when the newly elected Parliament meets. This also applies in case of early dissolution (Art. 20 A (1) (a), and 28 (6) of the Constitution; for early dissolution, see also Art. 28 (2) to (5), and 28 A (1) and (3) of the Constitution). Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Art. 20 A (1) (d) and (3) of the Constitution) · Procedure (Art. 20 A (3) of the Constitution): MPs may resign by making a statement to this effect to the Parliament (letter addressed to the Chairman). · Authority competent to accept the resignation (Art. 20 A (3) of the Constitution): a statement of acceptance by Parliament is not required for the resignation to be effective. Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter: - Declaration of a conflict of interest (incompatibility) (Art. 20 (5) and (6), Art. 20 A (1) (c) and (2) of the Constitution, SO 130 and 131 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary). Procedure. - Loss of mandate by judicial decision (b) Death (Art. 20 A (1) (b) of the Constitution) STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament: 1. The Speaker 2. The Deputy Speakers 3. The Notaries 4. The Chairpersons of committees 5. The Deputy Chairpersons of committees Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport · Basic salary (see also Art. 20 (4) of the Constitution): HUF 114,075 + Additional allowance (see also Art. 20 (4) of the Constitution): for certain positions · No exemption from tax · Pension scheme · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat for MPs and factions (see also SO 144 and 145 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) (b) Assistants (see also SO 146 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) (c) Accommodation (d) Postal and telephone services at work free of charge (e) Travel and transport (f) Others Obligation to declare personal assets Yes Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 20 (3) and (6) of the Constitution, SO 130 and 131 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary, S. 4 of the Law on the Legal Status of Members of Parliament). · Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament. · Derogations: disclosure of State secrets, slander, defamation and civil law responsibility (S. 4 of the Law on the Legal Status of Members of Parliament); offence (SO 54 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary; see Discipline) · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 20 (3) and (6) of the Constitution, SO 130 and 131 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary, S. 5 of the Law on the Legal Status of Members of Parliament). · It applies to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched. · Derogations: in case of flagrante delicto, MPs can be arrested without approval of Parliament. · Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal. · Protection is provided during the candidature, from the day of election to the end of the mandate, and between early dissolution of the House and the election of a new Parliament. It also covers judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election. · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted - Competent authority: the National Assembly, for minor offences also the Member concerned; for candidates, the National Election Board - Procedure . In this case, MPs can be heard. They do not have means of appeal. · Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions. · Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members. · In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. · It is provided by the political parties. Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings and committee meetings (SO 13 (3) and 44 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary; see also SO 138 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary). · Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: for MPs who are absent from more than one third of the monthly votes, reduction of the indemnity by the difference between the non-attendance unaccounted for and one-third of the monthly votes. Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in SO 19 (1), 54, and 55 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary. · Disciplinary measures foreseen: - Warning for irrelevance (SO 54 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) - Call to order (SO 54 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) - Order to discontinue the speech (SO 54 (3) to (6) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) - Interruption of the sitting (SO 55 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) · Specific cases: - Offence (SO 54 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary): call to order · Competent body to judge such cases/to apply penalties: the Speaker (SO 19 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) · Procedure: - Warning for irrelevance, call to order, order to discontinue the speech, offence (SO 54 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) - Interruption of the sitting (SO 55 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary) Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there are some relevant provisions (Art. 20 A (1) (c) and (2) of the Constitution, SO 130 and 131 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary, for the declaration of interests, see Obligation to declare personal assets). · Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct (Art. 20 (1) (c) of the Constitution): loss of mandate · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the National Assembly · Procedure (Art. 20 A (2) of the Constitution, SO 130 and 131 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary). Relations between MPs and pressure group · There is one legal provision in this field (SO 141 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary; register of national interest groups and social organisations).

This page was last updated on 8 February 2012
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