| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Országgyülés / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 9 April 2006
23 April 2006 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all the seats in the National Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
The first parliamentary elections since Hungary's accession to the European Union (EU) in May 2004 were held on 9 and 23 April 2006.
In the last elections in April 2002
the Hungarian Socialist Party Alliance of Free Democrats (MSzP-SzDSz) won 198 of 386 seats
narrowly defeating the then Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ).
The 2006 elections also saw a duel between the socialist MSzP-SzDSz coalition and the conservative electoral coalition comprising the FIDESz and the Christian Democratic Party (KDNP). Another conservative party
the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF)
was formed by former members of the FIDESz
and led by Ms. Ibolya Dávid. As well as endorsing their own party lists
MSzP and SzDSz also fielded joint candidates.
The main issue in the 2006 elections was how to proceed with the economic reforms that would permit the adoption of the Euro as the national currency. Although the country had been enjoying a 4 percent growth rate
its deficit of more than 8 per cent of GDP was a matter of concern for the EU. Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány
formerly a wealthy businessman before embarking on his political career
pledged to promote the free market by enhancing partnerships between the public and private sectors and to bring more foreign investment to the country. The opposition leader
Mr. Orbán
insisted on the need to protect the national industry. Both parties argued that the State should play a central role in the economic reforms.
At the first round of the elections held on 9 April 2006
67.57 per cent of some 8.1 million registered voters turned out at the polls. A total of 212 candidates secured the 50 per cent of votes required to be elected. At the end of the first round
the MSzP-SzDSz coalition held an advantage of 16 seats over its rival FIDESz-KDNP. For the second round
the SzDSz withdrew its candidates in 55 constituencies in favour of MSzP candidates. Meanwhile
the FIDESz-KDNP coalition failed to establish a similar deal with its possible partner
the MDF.
The second round of elections was held on 23 April. Turnout was lower than the first round
at 64.39 per cent
but largely surpassed the 25 per cent required to validate the poll.
The final results gave the ruling MSzP-SzDSz coalition an increased majority totaling 210 seats
thus making it the first government to be returned to office since the collapse of the communist regime.
The newly-elected National Assembly held its first session on 16 May 2006 and re-elected Ms. Katalin Szili of the MSzP as its Speaker. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 9 April 2006 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
8'076'781
5'457'553 (67.57%)
49'503
5'408'050 |
|
Notes
|
Statistics above refer to territorial constituencies.
Statistics for single-member constituencies
Number of registered electors: 8
076
781
Voters: 5
457
553
Blank or invalid ballot papers: 53
878
Valid votes: 5
403
675 |
| Round no 2 | 23 April 2006 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
5'059'002
3'257'244 (64.39%)
|
|
Notes
|
A total of 8
112 Hungarians abroad registered for the 1sts round
and 5
944 for the second round
of whom 6
679 and 4
269 respectively cast ballots
or 82.33% and 71.82%; largely surpassing the national turnout. |
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
Single seats votes |
Territorial seats |
% |
|
|
| Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) |
|
4'512'017 |
2'175'312 |
2'336'705 |
49.53 |
|
|
| Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ) |
|
4'542'220 |
2'269'241 |
2'272'979 |
45.75 |
|
|
| Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz) |
|
692'358 |
340'746 |
351'612 |
1.89 |
|
|
| Hungarian Socialist Party Alliance of Free Democrats (MSZP-SZDSZ) |
|
154'619 |
154'619 |
0 |
1.89 |
|
|
| Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) |
|
511'397 |
238'566 |
272'831 |
0.94 |
|
|
| Association for Somogy County (SOMOGYÉRT) |
|
9'457 |
9'457 |
0 |
0.17 |
|
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
Single seats votes |
Territorial seats |
% |
|
|
| Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) |
|
3'847'065 |
1'510'360 |
2'336'705 |
48.19 |
|
|
| Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ) |
|
3'784'405 |
1'511'426 |
2'272'979 |
42.49 |
|
|
| Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz) |
|
416'113 |
64'501 |
351'612 |
4.66 |
|
|
| Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) |
|
289'195 |
16'364 |
272'831 |
2.85 |
|
|
| Hungarian Socialist Party Alliance of Free Democrats (MSZP-SZDSZ) |
|
72'802 |
72'802 |
0 |
1.55 |
|
|
| Association for Somogy County (SOMOGYÉRT) |
|
13'801 |
13'801 |
0 |
0.26 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Single-member seats |
Territorial seats |
National seats |
Total of 1st + 2nd |
| Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) |
105
|
34 |
71 |
0 |
|
| Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ) |
97
|
28 |
69 |
0 |
|
| Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz) |
4
|
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
| Hungarian Socialist Party Alliance of Free Democrats (MSZP-SZDSZ) |
4
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) |
2
|
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
| Association for Somogy County (SOMOGYÉRT) |
0
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Single-member seats |
Territorial seats |
National seats |
Total of 1st + 2nd |
| Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) |
81
|
64 |
0 |
17 |
186 |
| Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ) |
67
|
40 |
0 |
27 |
164 |
| Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz) |
14
|
3 |
0 |
11 |
18 |
| Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) |
9
|
0 |
0 |
9 |
11 |
| Hungarian Socialist Party Alliance of Free Democrats (MSZP-SZDSZ) |
2
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| Association for Somogy County (SOMOGYÉRT) |
1
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
346
40
10.36%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
21 to 30 years
31 to 40 years
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
Over 70 years
|
15
55
134
148
25
9
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
| Liberal professions |
85 |
| Educators |
67 |
| Engineers/PC experts |
42 |
| Economists |
36 |
| Business/trade/industry employees
including executives |
29 |
| Medical professions (doctors
dentists
nurses) |
28 |
| Farmers/agricultural workers (including wine growers) |
24 |
| Civil/public servants/administrators (including social/development workers) |
19 |
| Others |
18 |
| Scientists and researchers |
11 |
| Consultants (including real estate agents) |
7 |
| Architects |
7 |
| Clerical occupations |
5 |
| Media-related professions (journalists/publishers) |
4 |
| Liberal professions (including artists
authors) and sports professionals |
2 |
| Bankers (including invest bankers)/accountants |
1 |
| Military/police officers |
1 |
|
| Comments |
Sources:
- http://www.valasztas.hu/main_en.html
- IPU Group (04.05.2006
01.01.2008) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
