Comparison of government and party system in Hungary and Serbia

Comparison of government and party system in Hungary and Serbia.

Hungary and Serbia, neighbouring countries in Central and Southeastern Europe, have both undergone significant political transformations in recent history. Understanding the similarities and differences in their form of government, party systems, and electoral systems can shed light on the political dynamics and structures that shape these nations. In this paper, we will compare and contrast the key aspects of government structure, party politics, and electoral processes in Hungary and Serbia. By examining these principal elements, we can gain a deeper understanding of the political landscapes in these two countries and how they impact governance, representation, and the democratic processes at play.

Form of government.

Hungary

Hungary's government is a parliamentary republic. It is a system of government where there is a President who head of state, and a Prime Minister head of government and makes main decision. The President is chosen by the National Assembly, the group of people who make the country's laws, to serve as the leader for five years and maximum for two terms in a row. The President chooses the Prime Minister, who is usually the leader of the main political party or group of parties that have the most seats in the National Assembly. The President's main job is to perform ceremonial duties and has only a few powers to make decisions and take actions. The president has the right to approve legislation to become law.

The National Assembly is made up of 199 people who are chosen by voting. There are different ways people can vote to elect the members. They work for four years before their term ends. Hungary lets different political parties compete and work together to run the country.

The Prime Minister is the head of the government and has a lot of important powers. The PM is responsible for running the country internal politics. The President is elected by the National Assembly, which is the country's legislative body, for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and is usually the leader of the political party or coalition with a majority of seats in the National Assembly.

The Legislative Branch is the group of people who make the laws in Hungary. They are called the National Assembly or the Parliament of Hungary. It has only one chamber. The National Assembly is made up of 199 people who are chosen by a combination of voting methods. Out of all these, 106 members are chosen by people in specific areas, and 93 members are chosen by parties based on their overall number of votes. People in the National Assembly work for four years at a time. It can make laws and remove the President if they break the constitution.

The judicial branch in Hungary is separate from the government's other branches. The Constitutional Court is the most important and powerful organization when it comes to dealing with issues related to the Constitution. This group's job is to understand and explain the constitution, solve problems about things that follow the constitution, and check that laws and government actions are allowed by the constitution.

In Hungary, there are several types of courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court for non-constitutional matters and deals with appeals. There are also regional and local courts that handle diverse kinds of cases. In Hungary, the President chooses judges based on the advice of the National Judicial Council.

A multi-party system: There are many different political parties that compete in elections. These parties have a chance to win seats in the National Assembly. The two biggest political parties in Hungary are Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance and the Hungarian Socialist Party. However, other groups also have important roles in the politics of the country.

Media and publishing: During communist rule, the Hungarian press, which included around 30 newspapers and 1,500 magazines, was heavily controlled. However, starting from the 1960s, it became the least restricted compared to other countries in the Soviet bloc. In 1988, rules about controlling what can be published or shown were made less strict. And then, in the following two years, those rules were completely gotten rid of. In the 2010s, the government under Orbán stopped the progress towards news media independence. They gained control over media outlets that supported the government and prevented independent outlets from reaching a large audience by refusing to provide them with funding through state advertising. They also made it difficult for the owners of independent outlets to pursue other business opportunities. At the end of the decade, many newspapers, radio and TV stations, and websites were sold to people who support Orbán. They started controlling what they write or gave control to the Central European Press and Media Foundation, which is influenced by Orbán's close associates.

In the early 1990s, more newspapers were being published, but fewer people were reading them. For instance, the number of copies printed for the Népszabadság newspaper, which is very popular in the country, dropped from 700,000 to around 200,000 as the 21st century began. Then, in 2016, the newspaper was closed down. The leading liberal newspaper, Magyar Nemzet ("Hungarian Nation"), also experienced a similar decrease. The main weekly magazines are called Szabad Föld, which means "Free Earth", and Nők Lapja, which means "Hungarian Women's Journal".

Electoral system in Hungary

The National Assembly has 199 people in it. Out of these, 106 are chosen by voting in specific areas, while the other 93 are selected from lists of members from national parties.

In Hungary, they have elections for their Parliament every four years. According to the Fundamental Law, the votes for who will be in parliament are held in April or May in the fourth year after the last parliament vote.

Members of parliament are chosen by people who vote in a fair and equal way. This is done by directly casting a private vote, and the election process makes sure that people can freely express their opinions. The rules for this process are set out in an important law. According to the law, every adult citizen in Hungary has the right to vote and run for election as a member of parliament.

In some countries, members of parliament are elected in specific areas. They are chosen through a voting system where whoever gets the most votes wins, just like in the United Kingdom or the United States. Elections for Congress. The candidate who gets the most votes in a constituency, regardless of how many people vote, is chosen for that seat.

In Hungary, voters have the option to vote for a candidate in their local area and also for a political party. In Hungary, if you are a voter who belongs to a national minority, you can vote for one person running for office in your constituency. You can also vote for a political party if you don't have a specific candidate to support. A person from another country can vote for a single party in Hungary.