From Disfranchisement to Parliamentary Representation Cover Image

A jogfosztottságtól a parlamenti képviseletig
From Disfranchisement to Parliamentary Representation

The First Hungarian Representatives in the Parliament of Prague and Bratislava

Author(s): Árpád Popély
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Post-War period (1950 - 1989), History of Communism
Published by: Fórum Kisebbségkutató Intézet
Keywords: Czechoslovakia;Hungarian minority;communist party;parliamentary elections;parliamentary representatives;

Summary/Abstract: After World War II the Hungarian minority in Czechoslovakia was not only deprived of its citizenship but also its franchise. For this reason, in parliamentary elections of 1946 and 1948, the Hungarian population was not allowed to take part. The first parliamentary elections in which the Hungarians could finally take part, and Hungarian representatives were elected to the Parliaments of Prague and Bratislava were the elections in 1954. While out of 368 representatives of the parliament in Prague 9 were Hungarians, this rate in the parliament in Bratislava is 13 Hungarians out of 104 representatives. The study features both their election and activities. From then on, until the change of regime in 1989, the Hungarian minority was constantly provided seats in both parliaments. However, the Hungarian MPs were not elected by the Hungarian community, but were chosen and brought to parliament by the communist party. Their charge was to demonstrate the “proper” nationality policy of the communist party. Opportunities to stand for Hungarian minority interests were almost none.

  • Issue Year: XXIII/2021
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 51-86
  • Page Count: 36
  • Language: Hungarian