The Transformation of the Hungarian Legal System 2010-2013 [antikvár]

Foreword There have been several changes of regime in Hungary's history over the last hundred years: in the catharsis and ending of the World Wars (1918-19, 1944-45), communists coming into power (1949) and following the collapse of the socialist block. Between them barely a time period of one generation had passed and society was already working on the establishment of another system "fated for success". From among the political systems of the past century the so-called Third Hungarian Republic, established in 1989/90, was the freest one that facilitated the self-assertation of individuals the most. Opinions are, however, divided over whether the governing elites, although they have recognised the importance of the rise and equality of several social groups, have done, or indeed could have done, everything to reach these goals. The activity of the Government which was formed following the 2010 elections is definitely to be considered as a distinctive change in the development of the democratic political and legal system established—more precisely instituted—in 1989/90. The Government announced the renewal of Hungary and the transformation of the legal system in its programme. Lacking historical perspective, the designation of distinctive change is based on the opinion of contemporaries, Hungarian society and the legal-academic literature. It remains for future generations to decide whether it can be considered as a new system or "only" the ending of the transitional period. This Book is intended to provide a comprehensive outlook for the professional public on the transformation of the Hungarian legal system which has been carried out since 2010. We do not intend to present the political background of the decisions transforming the legal system, our legal scholar authors simply analyse the reforms of the Codes and significant legal institutions of the main branches of law. The scope of these studies is astoundingly large. Starting with the new constitution, through the transformation of the system of administration. Parliament also adopted new Civil, Criminal and Labour Codes. The wide range of fundamental rights, along with the legal status and competence rules of most of the State Organs has been modified. Direct democracy will be manifested according to new rules: a new substantial and procedural regime has been established for elections and referenda. The rules within the individual branches of law are worth separate monographs; the jurisprudential work on the elaboration of these has already started in Hungary. This volume does not intend, because it is not able to, provide a full-scale analysis of all new acts. Instead, the basic institutions of the Hungarian legal system and their changes will