Die ungarische Demokratie in der Krise? Veränderungen des politischen Systems in Ungarn nach drei Jahren Regierung Viktor Orbán
Hungarian Democracy in Crisis? Changes of the Political System in Hungary after Three Years Government of Viktor Orbán

Summary/Abstract: Since the landslide victory of FIDESZ/KDNP in the 2010 elections the government of Viktor Orbán commands a two-thirds-majority in the Hungarian Parliament, which pushed through large-scale changes of the Hungarian political system. These political reforms, especially the new constitution of April 2011 and the new electoral law of December 2011, have given rise to controversial debates on the quality of democracy in Hungary both in Hungary as well as in its European partner countries. Whereas Viktor Orbán justifies the reforms as a necessary completion of the transition to democracy, his opponents criticize them as steps towards an autocratic regime. The article gives first a short overview on the political developments in Hungary from the radical system change in 1989/90 up to the elections of 2010. Afterwards it analyzes the reconstruction of the political system under the Orbán government and discusses the state of democracy after three years of FIDESZ government. It shows that although the political reforms weaken the veto players in the democratic system of Hungary, they do not abolish the separation of powers or the rule of law.

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