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Start of the Downfall of the Constitutional Democracy
The demolition of constitutional democracy is a process that started with the amendments to the 1989 constitution—which was originally designed as an interim constitution amending the Stalinist constitution from 1949—and continued with the adoption of a new constitution, the so-called Fundamental Law of Hungary, in 2011. This constitution contains both democratic and severely anti-democratic elements. Its most recent modifications, known collectively as the fourth amendment, enhance its anti-dem -
Movement Toward Authoritarianism
Hungary’s move toward authoritarianism began with the 2010 elections, when then-opposition party Fidesz won 53 percent of the vote, which translated to two-thirds of the seats in Parliament because of our disproportionate system. -
New Constitution
In 2011, Fidesz ratified a new constitution, which went into effect on January 1, 2012. It also passed several “cardinal” laws, which can be seen as quasi-amendments to the constitution. These laws, which also require a supermajority to be approved, affect everything from the status of churches and independent media to tax regulation. They will jeopardize the ability of future coalitions to govern, because the next government is not likely to win the same supermajority. The constitution and the -
Prostestings
Thousands protest against the fourth amendment of the constitution with banners that read “There is only home where there is law,” in a tunnel close to Budapest’s Chain Bridge. -
165th Anniversary of Hungarians Nation’s Revolution
Hungarians honored the 165th anniversary of their nation’s revolution by taking to the streets of Budapest in protest of a constitutional amendment many consider anti-democratic.