Alliance of Free Democrats
Encyclopedia
The Alliance of Free Democrats – Hungarian Liberal Party is a liberal party in Hungary
, led since July 2010 by Viktor Szabadai (previously by Gábor Fodor). The SZDSZ is a member of the ELDR and of Liberal International
. It draws its support predominantly from Budapest
among the middle classes, liberal intellectuals and entrepreneurs.
Its origins lie in the illegal Democratic Opposition under the communist rule of János Kádár
. This gave rise to the loosely organized Network of Free Initiatives (Szabad Kezdeményezések Hálózata) on May 1, 1988 and to the foundation of the SZDSZ as an opposition political party on November 13, 1988. The party initially suggesting a radical agenda for changing the political, social and economic system in the country. It suffered a close defeat at the first free general elections of the Third Republic in 1990, thus becoming the leading opposition force in the first free Parliament. After the fall of the conservative government at the following 1994 elections, SZDSZ surprised many by entering into a coalition with the socialist party MSZP, legal successors to the communists MSZMP. Thus began a strategic alliance between the two parties that lasted for 14 years, ending only in 2008.
The heyday of the SZDSZ may be thought to have ended when it suffered heavy losses in the 1998 general elections. In 2002, it gained only 5.5% of the vote, returning 20 deputies to Parliament. Until its withdrawal from the coalition in May 2008, the SZDSZ had three portfolios. It also has a delegation in the European Parliament, receiving 7.7% of the Hungarian vote and two members in the 2004 European Parliamentary Election
.
In the 2006 elections
, it gained no directly elected seats, but 6.5% of the list votes, thus securing 20 members in Hungary's 386-seat Parliament
. (This was the first time that the party managed to increase its support compared with a previous general election.) The MSZP-SZDSZ coalition had a small majority in the new Parliament.
On March 31, 2008, various reform-related disagreements between the MSZP and SZDSZ led the SZDSZ leader János Kóka to announce that his party would quit the coalition by May 1, 2008.http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080331/wl_nm/hungary_politics_dc This also meant that the MSZP would have to form the first minority government
in Hungary
since the change of system.
However, the legitimacy of János Kóka's position as party president became questioned when it was discovered that some signatures of the delegates to the assembly electing him had been forged. Since he had won his position by a very small margin over Gábor Fodor, these votes might have changed the outcome. So a new leadership election was held in June http://nol.hu/cikk/488203/ and Gábor Fodor was returned.
SZDSZ provided the first freely elected President of the Third Hungarian Republic
, Árpád Göncz
. The SZDSZ High Mayor
of Budapest
, Gábor Demszky
was in office continuously since 1990 till 2010, when he was replaced by István Tarlós
.
In the 2009 June 7 EU parliamentary elections SZDSZ was essentially destroyed by the voters, having won no seats and earning just 2,16% of the total votes, less than half of the minimum 5% needed to secure representation. The party did not even receive 5% in the capital Budapest, its traditional stronghold. Party president Gábor Fodor offered his resignation as soon as the official tally was announced at 10:00 pm.
In the 2010 parliamentary elections, SZDSZ failed to win any seats. The party was even wiped off the map in Budapest.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, led since July 2010 by Viktor Szabadai (previously by Gábor Fodor). The SZDSZ is a member of the ELDR and of Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
. It draws its support predominantly from Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
among the middle classes, liberal intellectuals and entrepreneurs.
Its origins lie in the illegal Democratic Opposition under the communist rule of János Kádár
János Kádár
János Kádár was a Hungarian communist leader and the General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party, presiding over the country from 1956 until his forced retirement in 1988. His thirty-two year term as General Secretary makes Kádár the longest ruler of the People's Republic of Hungary...
. This gave rise to the loosely organized Network of Free Initiatives (Szabad Kezdeményezések Hálózata) on May 1, 1988 and to the foundation of the SZDSZ as an opposition political party on November 13, 1988. The party initially suggesting a radical agenda for changing the political, social and economic system in the country. It suffered a close defeat at the first free general elections of the Third Republic in 1990, thus becoming the leading opposition force in the first free Parliament. After the fall of the conservative government at the following 1994 elections, SZDSZ surprised many by entering into a coalition with the socialist party MSZP, legal successors to the communists MSZMP. Thus began a strategic alliance between the two parties that lasted for 14 years, ending only in 2008.
The heyday of the SZDSZ may be thought to have ended when it suffered heavy losses in the 1998 general elections. In 2002, it gained only 5.5% of the vote, returning 20 deputies to Parliament. Until its withdrawal from the coalition in May 2008, the SZDSZ had three portfolios. It also has a delegation in the European Parliament, receiving 7.7% of the Hungarian vote and two members in the 2004 European Parliamentary Election
European Parliament election, 2004 (Hungary)
The European Parliament election of 2004 in Hungary was the election of MEP representing Hungary constituency for the 2004-2009 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 2004 European election.The vote took place on 13 June...
.
In the 2006 elections
Hungarian parliamentary election, 2006
The schedule of the 2006 Hungarian parliamentary elections, as announced by president László Sólyom was as follows:* first round on April 9, 2006* second round on April 23, 2006...
, it gained no directly elected seats, but 6.5% of the list votes, thus securing 20 members in Hungary's 386-seat Parliament
National Assembly of Hungary
The National Assembly or Diet is the parliament of Hungary. The unicameral body consists of 386 members elected to 4-year terms. Election of members is based on a complex system involving both area and list election; parties must win at least 5% of the popular vote in order to enter list members...
. (This was the first time that the party managed to increase its support compared with a previous general election.) The MSZP-SZDSZ coalition had a small majority in the new Parliament.
On March 31, 2008, various reform-related disagreements between the MSZP and SZDSZ led the SZDSZ leader János Kóka to announce that his party would quit the coalition by May 1, 2008.http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080331/wl_nm/hungary_politics_dc This also meant that the MSZP would have to form the first minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
since the change of system.
However, the legitimacy of János Kóka's position as party president became questioned when it was discovered that some signatures of the delegates to the assembly electing him had been forged. Since he had won his position by a very small margin over Gábor Fodor, these votes might have changed the outcome. So a new leadership election was held in June http://nol.hu/cikk/488203/ and Gábor Fodor was returned.
SZDSZ provided the first freely elected President of the Third Hungarian Republic
Third Hungarian Republic
The third Republic of Hungary is an informal term used for the current republic of Hungary, which was proclaimed on October 23, 1989 , ending Hungary's communist era and replacing the former People's Republic of Hungary.The first republic was proclaimed on November 16, 1918 when the...
, Árpád Göncz
Árpád Göncz
Árpád Göncz is a Hungarian liberal politician and former President of Hungary . Göncz played a role in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956...
. The SZDSZ High Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Gábor Demszky
Gábor Demszky
Gábor Demszky is a Hungarian politician, lawyer and sociologist by qualification. Demszky was the Mayor of Budapest from 1990 to 2010.- Biography :...
was in office continuously since 1990 till 2010, when he was replaced by István Tarlós
István Tarlós
The native form of this personal name is Tarlós István. This article uses the Western name order.István Tarlós is the Mayor of Budapest since 2010. He was the Mayor of the Third District of the city between 1990 and 2006...
.
In the 2009 June 7 EU parliamentary elections SZDSZ was essentially destroyed by the voters, having won no seats and earning just 2,16% of the total votes, less than half of the minimum 5% needed to secure representation. The party did not even receive 5% in the capital Budapest, its traditional stronghold. Party president Gábor Fodor offered his resignation as soon as the official tally was announced at 10:00 pm.
In the 2010 parliamentary elections, SZDSZ failed to win any seats. The party was even wiped off the map in Budapest.
Parliamentary representation
| year | seat percentage | seats | popular votes | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.83% | 92 | 1,168,234 | opposition |
| 1994 | 17.88% | 69 | 965,401 | government |
| 1998 | 6.22% | 24 | 344,352 | opposition |
| 2002 | 5.18% | 20 | 313,084 | government |
| 2006 | 5.18% | 20 | 351,612 | government |
| 2008 | COALITION BROKE UP | 20 | opposition | |
| 2010 | 0,25% | 0 | 12,652 | extra-parliamentary |
Party Leaders
- 23 February 1990 to 23 November 1991 János KisJános KisJános Kis is a Hungarian philosopher and political scientist.Kis was born in Budapest, Hungary. He graduated from Philosophy at the Eötvös Loránd University in 1967. Kis was inspired by the ideas of György Lukács, and became marxist in the 1960's. He joined the Hungarian Communist Party too...
- November 23, 1991 to November 13, 1992 Péter Tölgyessy
- November 13, 1992 to April 24, 1997 Iván Pető
- April 24, 1997 to June 20, 1998 Gábor KunczeGábor KunczeGábor Kuncze is a Hungarian liberal politician, former chairman of the Hungarian Alliance of Free Democrats ....
- June 20, 1998 to December 2000 Bálint MagyarBálint MagyarBálint Magyar is a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Education between 1996–1998 and between 2002–2006...
- December 2000 to June 2001 Gábor DemszkyGábor DemszkyGábor Demszky is a Hungarian politician, lawyer and sociologist by qualification. Demszky was the Mayor of Budapest from 1990 to 2010.- Biography :...
- June 2001 to March 31, 2007 Gábor KunczeGábor KunczeGábor Kuncze is a Hungarian liberal politician, former chairman of the Hungarian Alliance of Free Democrats ....
- March 31, 2007 to June 7, 2008 János Kóka
- June 7, 2008 to July 12, 2009 Gábor FodorGábor Fodor (politician)Gábor Fodor is a Hungarian jurist, liberal politician, the former president of the Alliance of Free Democrats , he held the position between 2008–2009. Fodor resigned due to the results of the European Parliament election, 2009...
- July 12, 2009 to May 29, 2010 Attila Retkes
- July 16, 2010: Viktor Szabadai (president pro tempore)
See also
- LiberalismLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
- Contributions to liberal theoryContributions to liberal theoryIndividual contributors to classical liberalism and political liberalism are associated with philosophers of the Enlightenment. Liberalism as a specifically named ideology begins in the late 18th century as a movement towards self-government and away from aristocracy...
- Liberalism worldwideLiberalism worldwideThis article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world....
- List of liberal parties
- Liberal democracyLiberal democracyLiberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
- Liberalism and radicalism in HungaryLiberalism and radicalism in HungaryThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Hungary. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...