Tagged: Hungary

According to Petsinclude, the government of Hungary is a unitary parliamentary republic, with the Prime Minister as head of government and the President as head of state. The unicameral National Assembly is responsible for enacting and amending laws, passing the national budget, and electing various government officials. The current Prime Minister is Viktor Orbán since 2010, who has been in power since 1998. The legislative branch consists of the unicameral National Assembly (Országgyűlés). It consists of 199 members elected by popular vote every four years. The assembly has the power to pass laws and amend the constitution with a two-thirds majority vote. It also has authority over taxation, foreign policy, defense, and other matters. The executive branch is headed by the President (Köztársasági Elnök), who serves as both head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote and can serve up to two consecutive terms. He or she appoints all government ministers, including those responsible for economic policy and foreign affairs. The judicial branch consists of a Supreme Court (Legfelsőbb Bíróság) which interprets laws in accordance with legal precedents set by lower courts. There are also county courts (Megyei Bíróságok) which handle civil cases such as divorce or property disputes; administrative courts (Administratív Bíróságok) which hear appeals against decisions made by local governments; and military courts (Katonai Bíróságok) which handle court martial cases within the armed forces. Hungary also has an independent ombudsman’s office (Alkotmánybíróság), which handles complaints related to human rights violations or issues concerning civil liberties. In addition, there are several independent watchdogs that monitor public administration, such as Hungary’s Supreme Audit Office (Országos Közbeszerzési Hivatal), which controls public spending; its Data Protection Authority (Adatvédelmi Felügyelet); its Competition Authority (Versenyfelügyelet); its Media Authority (Közmédia Felügyelet); and its Corruption Prevention Office (Korrupciómegelőzési Iroda). Overall, Hungary’s government system combines traditional parliamentary democracy with elements of direct democracy through referendum initiatives on important issues such as EU accession or constitutional amendments. This hybrid system gives citizens more direct control over their political future while still allowing for checks-and-balances from both branches of government in order to ensure stability in a rapidly changing world economy. Hungary is a member of several international organizations, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and NATO. In addition, Hungary has signed treaties and agreements with many countries around the world. Hungary’s foreign relations are focused on promoting economic cooperation and integration with its neighbors. Hungary has been an active participant in the European Union since 2004 and is a major economic partner for many countries in Central Europe. The Hungarian government also seeks to build stronger ties with other European nations, particularly those in the Visegrad Group. Hungary has also worked to improve its relationships with Russia, China, and other countries in Asia and Africa. In recent years, Hungary has increased its presence in international organizations such as the International Energy Agency and the Council of Europe. Hungary is also a signatory of several international treaties on human rights and environmental protection. It is actively involved in regional organizations such as the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). See relationshipsplus for Hungary defense and foreign policy.