Hungary Declares Independence

Hungary Declares Independence

The cold war between the United States and the former Soviet Union that began shortly after the end of World War II started to wind down in the late 1980s. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was not willing to continue the decades-old conflict, which had taxed the economic and military resources of the Soviet Union to the breaking point. Furthermore, the peoples of the Soviet Union and its client states in Eastern Europe were growing increasingly restless under the totalitarian communist regimes that governed them.

Most of Eastern Europe had been occupied by Soviet forces after their victory over the Nazis in World War II. The Soviets set up puppet regimes with Soviet-loyal communist governments. In 1956 the people of one such country, namely Hungary, tried to free themselves and establish an independent government. The Soviets ruthlessly crushed this uprising by sending tanks and troops into the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Although people in the United States and the rest of the free world were outraged, their fears of starting a nuclear war prevented them from intervening. In the 1980s, however, the Hungarians were more successful. Permitted by Gorbachev to liberalize their political and economic systems, they introduced free-market capitalism and privately owned property. Finally, effective October 23, 1989, the Hungarians replaced the old communist regime with a democratic Republic of Hungary. The revised constitution was in effect Hungary's declaration of independence from the old Soviet Bloc and went unopposed by Gorbachev. It was also a cold war victory for the United States and the West in addition to being a symbolic vindication of the Hungarian struggle of 1956.

The preamble and relevant prefatory provisions of the new Hungarian constitution of 1989 are set forth below:

The Constitution of the Republic of Hungary In order to facilitate peaceful political transition into a constitutional state ready to realize a multiparty system, introduce parliamentary democracy, and promote conversion to a socially alert market economy, Parliament submits the following text as the authorized version, until the ratification of its replacement, of the Constitution of Hungary. Chapter I General Provisions Article 1 Hungary is a Republic. Article 2

• The Republic of Hungary is an independent and democratic constitutional state.
• In the Republic of Hungary all power belongs to the people. The people exercise their sovereignty through elected representatives or directly.
• In this country no activity, whether of a social or state organization, and no endeavor of any citizen, may be aimed at securing or exercising power by means of force, or at the exclusive possession of power. Anyone has the right and the duty to take action against such endeavors in any lawful manner.

Article 3

• In the Republic of Hungary, political parties may be freely founded and may act in freedom provided they show respect for the Constitution and the statutes of constitutional law.
• The parties are involved in registering and expressing the will of the people.
• The parties may not exercise public power directly. Accordingly, no party may control or direct any State organ. In order to ensure the effective separation of the parties from State power, the law determines the social and public offices that cannot be filled by any member or officer of any party.

Article 4 The trade unions and other interest organizations protect and represent the interests of employees, cooperative members, and of entrepreneurs. Article 5 The State of the Republic of Hungary safeguards the freedom and power of the people, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, and the boundaries registered in international treaties. Article 6

• The Republic of Hungary repudiates war as a means of dealing with conflicts between nations and refrains from the use of force against the independence or territorial integrity of other states. It also refrains from making threats i mplying recourse to force.
• The Republic of Hungary is working for cooperation with all the peoples and countries of the world.
• The Republic of Hungary bears a sense of responsibility for what happens to Hungarians living outside of its borders and promotes the fostering of their relations with Hungary.

Article 7

• The legal system of the Republic of Hungary accepts the universally recognized rules and regulations of international law, and harmonizes the internal laws and statutes of the country with the obligations assumed under international law.
• The law regulates legislative procedures. The votes of two thirds of the Members of Parliament present are required for passing new legislation.

Article 8

• The Republic of Hungary recognizes the inviolable and inalienable rights of persons. Ensuring respect and protection for these rights is a primary obligation of the State.
• In the Republic of Hungary the law contains rules on fundamental rights and obligations, but must not impose any limitations on the essential contents and meaning of fundamental rights.

[Sections (3) and (4) omitted] Article 9

• Hungary has a market economy in which public and private property are to receive equal consideration and protection under the law.
• The Republic of Hungary recognizes and supports the right to enterprise and the freedom of economic competition.

Article 10

• Any property of the Hungarian State is part of the country's national wealth.
• The full range of exclusive ownership by, and of the exclusive economic activities of, the State is determined by the law.

[Rest of document omitted for size reasons]