What is the form of government in Hungary?

Parliamentary democracy in Hungary

In a parliamentary democracy like Hungary, the public has the right to elect officials to represent them, and delegate them to a national assembly that decides how the country should be governed: what concepts should be made into laws, what kind of behaviors should be encouraged or punished, and how the money collected in the form of taxes should be spent.

Most representatives belong to a political party, which brings together politicians who share the same values and ideas about how things should be run. Hungary has a multi-party system with several meaningfully distinct political parties. Elections are held regularly, and the party that gets the most mandates can form a government. Sometimes two or more parties team up and pool their mandates to earn the right to do so.

In Hungary, general elections are held every 4 years. Hungarian citizens can vote for parties as well as individual candidates to represent their constituency. Candidates can gain their mandate and become Members of the Parliament (MP) based on either the votes cast on them or on their party. Usually the leader of the winning party will become the Prime Minister, who is the head of the government.

The head of state is the president of Hungary, who is elected for 5 years. During this time their main role is to represent Hungary domestically and internationally (either alone or alongside the prime minister) and to publish the laws accepted by the Parliament (or occasionally send laws back for review in case they deem these laws unconstitutional). While the president is officially independent from the government, they are elected by the Parliament instead of directly by the public, so the governing party can often impose its will on the rest of the MPs.

All laws created by the Parliament must align with the Fundamental Law of Hungary (which is basically its constitution). In case a law is contested through the court system, the Supreme Court called the Curia will investigate whether it meets requirements or it should be renegotiated in Parliament. Members of the Supreme Court are elected by the Parliament.

Who do I get to elect?

As a citizen of Hungary, your main option for influencing politics is participation at the general elections every 4 years. Otherwise, it is the Parliament that elects most other officials such as the Prime Minister, the President, the Supreme Court judges, or the Attorney General.

If you move to Hungary and have a permanent address (with a plastic address card), you can also participate in local and EP elections. While these are two separate events, sometimes they are held together to save on organization costs. In the local elections, you vote for a mayor and representatives in the local council, while in the European Parliamentary elections you vote for your representatives in the European Parliament.

Between elections, you can always call or otherwise contact your elected officials during their mandate to express your opinion on various matters. You can also attend townhall meetings to discuss important questions and raise your concerns, vote in referendums, or participate in public initiatives.

Voting in elections

Voter registration is supposed to be automatic in Hungary. Whenever elections are coming up, you should receive a letter about it 6-8 weeks in advance. If you don’t receive a notification, you should check if you are registered. Options are different depending on whether you have a Hungarian permanent address or not. You can learn more about checking your registration here or getting registered here.

Before any elections, make sure to read up on the current candidates, and choose one whose views are closest to your own, even if the match is not perfect. Remember: elections are not a taxi that takes you right where you want to go, but public transport that will take you in the right direction.

What will change for me when I become a Hungarian citizen?

When you become a Hungarian citizen, you will obtain the right to cast your vote in general elections. Voting is a right, not an obligation in Hungary, so not participating is not penalized in any way. You will be required to observe other civic duties only if you move to Hungary.

Of course, you have many other options if you want to bring change in your local community. You can join a party in various functions or as an activist, you can join the parent teacher association of the school your child attends, you can attend the homeowners’ meeting at your apartment building, you can find volunteering opportunities in various fields, or you can support a local charity. These activities all contribute to making an impact, whether or not your preferred party gets to form a government.

Helpers at your service

We are happy to help you obtain Hungarian citizenship. Whether you just need advice on how to get started or you need assistance every step of the way, from collecting documents to learning Hungarian, you can count on the expertise of our team.

Do you want to know if you are eligible? Go to our free online survey and evaluate your options in just a few minutes.