Hungary, Hungarian Political Geography

Related Category: Hungarian Political Geography

After many years as a one-party Marxist state, Hungary became a multiparty parliamentary democracy in 1989. It operates under the constitution of 1949 as amended in 1972, 1989, and 1997. The unicameral legislature consists of the 386-seat national assembly, whose members are directly elected to four-year terms. The executive branch consists of a president, who is the chief of state and, along with the presidential council, is elected by the national assembly, and a prime minister, who is the head of government. The leading political parties are the Socialist party, the Hungarian Civic party, the Independent Smallholder's party, the Alliance of Free Democrats, and the Hungarian Democratic Forum. For administrative purposes, the country is divided into 19 counties, 20 urban counties, and the capital city.