Cover Osteuropa 12/2011

In Osteuropa 12/2011

Most problematic
Hungary’s New Constitution

Gábor Halmai


Deutsche Fassung

Abstract

Hungary has a new constitution. The constitutional process was carried out under exclusion of the political opposition and legal experts. The constitution does not meet democratic standards. It breaks with the principle of religious and ideological neutrality. The protection of fundamental rights is being undermined, the constitutional court weakened. The current government gives numerous political decisions constitutional status, which can only be amended by a two-thirds majority and thus limits the possibility of future governments to pursue different policies.

(Osteuropa 12/2011, pp. 144–156)

Read this article's international version:
Towards an illiberal democracy