Fraktionsprofile nach den Wahlen 2010 in Ungarn: Abschottung der parlamentarischen Elite?

• Published in: Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen 2011-01, Vol.42 (1), p.147-165
• Main Authors: Kurtán, Sándor, Ilonszki, Gabriella
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; ger
• Subjects: DOKUMENTATION UND ANALYSEN
• ISSN: 0340-1758; 1862-2534
• DOI: 10.5771/0340-1758-2011-1-147

The 2010 elections are regarded as critical elections in Hungary because the two big parties of systemic change (MDF and SZDSZ) have dropped out of parliament while two new parties (Jobbik and LMP) have gained seats for the first time. The extent of this transformation may be somewhat doubted when focusing on the Members of Parliament. The level of incumbency fell below 50 per cent, which represents a turn indeed. Formerly, incumbency had constantly increased and reached 70 per cent by 2006, reflecting party consolidation and elite freezing. The 2010 parliament represents change with regard to some socio-demographic features (it is much younger, less educated, and more Budapest-based than the former ones) but, and more importantly, it shows the same profile in fundamental respects: The share of MPs with local positions and with party leadership functions has further increased. This reflects the same selection criteria and also forecasts the same performance criteria as before: excessive partisanship and representation incoherence (i.e. simultaneous positions in the national parliament and on the local level, for instance as mayors). While the new parties' MPs are mostly amateurs, the old parties (FIDESZ, KDNP and MSZP) although they occupy highly different numerical and political positions have followed the old trends in selection and in their views on the working of parliament.