Politics and Religion in Hungary

Politics

Presently, Hungary is governed by a multi-party parliamentary democracy, composed of a parliament, a state president, and a prime minister.

The president acts as the head of state and holds the power to veto laws that are deemed unconstitutional. The prime minister leads the government and chairs meetings of cabinet ministers.

Because of economic instability since the revolution of 1989, the parties that govern Hungary have changed frequently. The voting populace seems uncertain of where to place the power, not knowing which party will live up to its promises to better the standard of living and curtail the rapid rates of inflation and unemployment.

Prior to 1989, the Hungarian government’s brand of communism differed markedly from the rest of the region’s regimes. The government allowed limited private enterprise, so Western products have been available in Hungary for decades. Hungarians were also allowed to travel outside the country, so Western influence has been evident since the 1960s.

Religion

Hungary is predominantly Christian, with Roman Catholics making up the majority, followed by Calvinists and Lutherans. There is a small Jewish population.