Constitution (2004)

REFERENDUMS HELD ON EUROPEAN MATTERS: 1

2003: EU - Accession (Yes 84 % - No 16 % - Turnout 46 %)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS - Constitution of Hungary

Binding and consultative referendum can be held.

ARTICLES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, REFERENDUM AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Regulation about a special transfer of sovereignty:
International treaties which effect matters of national defense must be confirmed by national law, Art. 40c II ConstHungary.

Approval of transfer of sovereignty without effect of constitutional amendment:
Majority of votes from parliament by presence of at least 1/2 of its members, Art. 30a I lit. b, 24 I, II ConstHungary.

Approval of transfer of sovereignty with effect of constitutional amendment:
Not expressly regulated, but constitutional amendment required.

Approval of constitutional amendment:
Majority of 2/3 from members of parliament, Art. 24 III ConstHungary.

Other constitutional regulations about referendums:
As well initiatives, referendums, binding and consultative, demanded by the president, government, 1/3 of the members of parliament or the people, as referendums on laws can be called, Art. 26 VI, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e ConstHungary.

RATING AND DEBATE

Only one parliamentary party, the Alliance of Free Democrats, argued in favour of ratifying the Constitution via referendum. Hungary was the second country to ratify the European Constitution after the parliament had overwhelmingly voted on 20.12.2004 to back the text. The vote crossed party lines as 322 parliamentarians voted in favour of ratifying the Constitution with 12 against and 8 abstaining. Of the 12 MP's who voted against the Constitution, seven were from the main opposition conservative Fidesz party and the rest were right-wing independent legislators. "We are elated that the Constitution was ratified with such speed and that it was Hungary which proposed the inclusion of a reference on the protection of minorities in the text," Boglar Laszlo, spokeswoman for Socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany told AFP.

More background information...

Eurobarometer (2006), The Future of Europe - Results for Hungary, Special Eurobarometer 251, Fieldwork: 23/02 – 15/03 2006. (PDF)

Eurobarometer report, (February 2004): 87% rather agree, 5% rather disagree*

*Are you rather agree or rather disagree with the statement: The European Union must adopt a Constitution.

Eurobarometer report, (January 2005): 60% favourable, 9% opposed*

*Based on what you know, would you say that you are in favour of or opposed to the draft European Constitution?

Eurobarometer report, (July 2005): 78% favourable, 7% opposed*

*Based on the question, are you for or against a constitution for the European Union?

Latest News

21.12.2004 Hungary backs EU constitution. BBC news

PROCEDURE

Parliamentary Ratification

STATE OF THE PROCEDURE

Constitution has been ratified by an overwhelming majority.

DATE OF REFERENDUM

20.12.2004