son-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely,
Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc,
Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Pest, Somogy, Sopron,
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely,
Tatabanya, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala, Zalaegerszeg
Independence:
1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday:
St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August (commemorates the founding
of Hungarian state circa 1000 A.D.)
Constitution:
18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18
October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and
constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also
established the principle of parliamentary oversight
Legal system:
in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western
model
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim
president from 2 May 1990); election last held 3 August 1990 (next to
be held NA 1995); results - President GONCZ elected by parliamentary
vote; note - President GONCZ was elected by the National Assembly with
a total of 295 votes out of 304 as interim President from 2 May 1990
until elected President
head of government:
Prime Minister Peter BOROSS (since 12 December 1993 on the death of
Jozsef ANTALL); new prime minister will probably be Gyula HORN
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; elected by the National Assembly on
recommendation of the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Orszaggyules):
elections last held on 8 and 29 May 1994 (next to be held spring
1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (386 total)
Hungarian Socialist Party 209, Alliance of Free Democrats 70,
Hungarian Democratic Forum 37, Independent Smallholders 26, Christian
Democratic People's Party 22, Federation of Young Democrats 20, other
2
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Forum, Sandor LESZAK, chairman; Independent Smallholders
(FKGP), Jozsef TORGYAN, president; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP),
Gyula HORN, president; Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), Dr.
Lazlo SURJAN, president; Federation of Young Democrats (FIDESZ),
Viktor ORBAN, chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), Ivan PETO,
chairman
note:
the Hungarian Soci