Hungarian Democratic Forum
Encyclopedia
The Hungarian Democratic Forum , abbreviated to MDF, was a centre-right
political party in Hungary
. It had a liberal conservative
and Christian democratic ideology. The party was represented continuously in the National Assembly
from the restoration of democracy in 1990 until 2010
.
The MDF was the largest party on Hungary's emergence as a democratic country under the leadership of József Antall
, Prime Minister between 1990 and 1993. Since then, its representation has receded, with the party playing the role of junior coalition partner to Fidesz
from 1998 to 2002, and in opposition otherwise.
It was a member of the Centrist Democrat International
, and was a member of the European People's Party
until 2009, when it joined the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
. The MDF's one MEP, Lajos Bokros
, sits with the ECR
in the European Parliament
.
Before 2002 it was part of a coalition government with the larger Fidesz
. It had 24 seats in the National Assembly
between 2002 and 2006.
In the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections
it gained 5.3% (164,025 votes) of the vote and one of its members was elected as a Member of the European Parliament
(MEP), sitting with the EPP-ED Group. MDF was a member of the European People's Party
(EPP), but its MEP joined on 22 June 2009 the European Conservatives and Reformists
group in the European Parliament instead of the EPP Group. This led to the party's suspension from the EPP.
It received 5.04% (272,831 votes) of the votes in the 2006 parliamentary elections
, thus securing its place in the next Parliament.
MDF has essentially split, with the majority of its parliamentary representatives ousted from the party. Ibolya Dávid
regularly accuses Fidesz
, the largest conservative force in Hungary of trying to annex her party. The two parties had a bitter quarrel following the first round of the 2006 parliamentary elections
on the possible withdrawal of MDF candidates to support the Fidesz: the presidency of the party decided not to do this. However, a number of MDF candidates decided to withdraw at their own discretion.
On 8 October 2009, Ibolya Dávid was a guest speaker at the annual conference of the British Conservative Party
, to confirm a long term strategic alliance between the two parties in Europe.
Note: In 2002 the party had a joint list with Fidesz
. The number of seats won by MDF is shown in parentheses.
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
political party 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...
. It had a liberal conservative
Liberal conservatism
Liberal conservatism also known as progressive conservatism is a variant of political conservatism which incorporates liberal elements. As "conservatism" and "liberalism" have had different meanings over time and across countries, the term "liberal conservatism" has been used in quite different...
and Christian democratic ideology. The party was represented continuously in the National Assembly
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...
from the restoration of democracy in 1990 until 2010
Hungarian parliamentary election, 2010
A parliamentary election was held in Hungary on 11 and 25 April 2010 to choose MPs for the National Assembly. They were the sixth free elections since the end of communist era. The 386 members of parliament were elected in a combined system of party lists and electoral constituencies...
.
The MDF was the largest party on Hungary's emergence as a democratic country under the leadership of József Antall
József Antall
József Antall was the first democratically-elected Prime Minister of Hungary after the fall of Communism , teacher, librarian, historian and political figure...
, Prime Minister between 1990 and 1993. Since then, its representation has receded, with the party playing the role of junior coalition partner to Fidesz
Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union
The Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union is a major conservative party in Hungary. At the 2010 election in Hungary, Fidesz-KDNP won a two-thirds majority of seats by gaining 52% of the votes, with Fidesz winning 227 seats and KDNP winning 36...
from 1998 to 2002, and in opposition otherwise.
It was a member of the Centrist Democrat International
Centrist Democrat International
The Centrist Democrat International was until 2001 the Christian Democrat International and before that the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International...
, and was a member of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
until 2009, when it joined the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
The Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists, abbreviated to AECR, is a centre-right anti-federalist European political party defending broader conservative and classical liberal principles. It consists of twelve parties in nine EU member states and Iceland...
. The MDF's one MEP, Lajos Bokros
Lajos Bokros
Lajos András Bokros is a Hungarian economist and Member of the European Parliament for Hungary.Bokros was born in Budapest. He graduated from and holds a Ph.D. from the Budapest University of Economics....
, sits with the ECR
European Conservatives and Reformists
The European Conservatives and Reformists, abbreviated to ECR, is a conservative anti-federalist political group in the European Parliament. The group currently comprises 57 MEPs, making it the fourth-largest group in the European Parliament....
in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
History
Several members were shut out.Before 2002 it was part of a coalition government with the larger Fidesz
Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union
The Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union is a major conservative party in Hungary. At the 2010 election in Hungary, Fidesz-KDNP won a two-thirds majority of seats by gaining 52% of the votes, with Fidesz winning 227 seats and KDNP winning 36...
. It had 24 seats in the National Assembly
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...
between 2002 and 2006.
In the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections
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...
it gained 5.3% (164,025 votes) of the vote and one of its members was elected as a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP), sitting with the EPP-ED Group. MDF was a member of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
(EPP), but its MEP joined on 22 June 2009 the European Conservatives and Reformists
European Conservatives and Reformists
The European Conservatives and Reformists, abbreviated to ECR, is a conservative anti-federalist political group in the European Parliament. The group currently comprises 57 MEPs, making it the fourth-largest group in the European Parliament....
group in the European Parliament instead of the EPP Group. This led to the party's suspension from the EPP.
It received 5.04% (272,831 votes) of the votes in the 2006 parliamentary 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...
, thus securing its place in the next Parliament.
MDF has essentially split, with the majority of its parliamentary representatives ousted from the party. Ibolya Dávid
Ibolya Dávid
Ibolya Dávid born Baja, Hungary ,1954 is a Hungarian lawyer, politician, she was the president of the Hungarian Democratic Forum between 1999-2010. Dávid was the Hungarian Minister of Justice between 1998-2002. She was the only female Minister in the government of Viktor Orbán. Dávid is a member...
regularly accuses Fidesz
Hungarian Civic Union
Hungarian Civic Union may refer to:*Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union, a centre-right political party in Hungary*Another name for the Hungarian Civic Party, a political party representing the Hungarian minority in Romania...
, the largest conservative force in Hungary of trying to annex her party. The two parties had a bitter quarrel following the first round of the 2006 parliamentary 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...
on the possible withdrawal of MDF candidates to support the Fidesz: the presidency of the party decided not to do this. However, a number of MDF candidates decided to withdraw at their own discretion.
On 8 October 2009, Ibolya Dávid was a guest speaker at the annual conference of the British Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, to confirm a long term strategic alliance between the two parties in Europe.
Parliamentary representation
| Year | Vote percentage | Seats | Popular votes | Ruling parties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 24.73% | 164 | 1,214,359 | MDF-FKGP-KDNP |
| 1994 | 11.73% | 38 | 633,157 | MSZP-SZDSZ |
| 1998 | 2.8% | 17 | 127,118 | FIDESZ-FKGP-MDF |
| 2002 | (together with FIDESZ) 41.07% | 188 (24) | 2,306,763 | MSZP-SZDSZ |
| 2006 | 5.04% | 11 | 272,831 | MSZP-SZDSZ |
| 2010 | 2.67% | 0 | 136,895 | FIDESZ-KDNP |
Note: In 2002 the party had a joint list with Fidesz
Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union
The Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union is a major conservative party in Hungary. At the 2010 election in Hungary, Fidesz-KDNP won a two-thirds majority of seats by gaining 52% of the votes, with Fidesz winning 227 seats and KDNP winning 36...
. The number of seats won by MDF is shown in parentheses.