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Hungary Discipline
The Party Rules stated that members who violated party
norms
were subject to punishments ranging from a reprimand to
expulsion. In addition, a less formal form of punishment
involved
the so-called "exchange of party cards," in which the old
party
cards were replaced for the faithful and the membership of
those
persons who had broken party discipline was revoked.
The HSWP could take several forms of disciplinary
action
against its members. Punishments included a reprimand,
censure,
severe censure, severe censure with final warning, and
expulsion.
From 1980 through 1985, the HSWP expelled 7,639 members.
In
addition, the party could suspend members from their
office for a
specified period of time or could recall party members
from
public office.
Disciplinary proceedings took place at the membership
meetings of the Basic Organization. Higher party organs
confirmed
or rejected the decision of the Basic Organization.
Ultimately,
the party's Central Control Committee could also review
the
decision.
The exchange of party cards took place on a party wide
scale.
Between 1945 and 1977, six such exchanges occurred. The
HSWP
began another exchange of party cards in 1986 to
strengthen party
discipline and maintain Kadar's control over the party. As
of
April 1988, approximately 46,000 members left the party as
a
result of that exchange: 250 were expelled, about 40,000
left
voluntarily, 1,500 were advised to leave, and 4,000 were
taken
off the membership list, probably for failure to pay their
membership dues.
Data as of September 1989
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