Hungarian Socialist Party

Background

In 1880, the Universal Labor Party ( Általános Munkáspárt ) was founded, which was renamed in 1890 to the Social Democratic Party of Hungary ( Magyarországi Szociádemokrata Párt , MSZDP , SDPV ). In 1918, the left wing broke away from the SDPV, forming the Communist Party of Hungary ( Kommunisták Magyarországi Pártja , KMP , KPV ). In 1919, another left-wing group, SDPV and KPV, merged into the Socialist Party of Hungary ( Magyarországi Szocialista Párt , SPV ), but after a year the SPV fell apart and the KPV was restored. In 1935, the left wing of the SDPV and the CPV merged into the Socialist Workers Party of Hungary ( Magyarországi Szocialista Munkáspárt , MSZMP , PWHP ), which, after the defeat by the hortist regime in 1928, virtually ceased to exist. In 1948, the SDPV and the CPV were united into the Hungarian Workers Party ( Magyar Dolgozók Pártja , MDP , VPT ), which in 1956 was renamed the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party ( Magyar Szocialista Munkáspárt , MSZMP , WAWP )

Reorganization of the HSWP

On October 7, 1989, the XIV Congress of the HSWP abandoned Leninism and moved to the position of social democracy , and the HSWP itself was renamed the Hungarian Socialist Party ( Magyar Szocialista Párt , MSZP , GSP ). The ideological foundations of the new party were formulated by Imre Pohgai , known as an advocate of maximum liberalization of the regime ^[1] . Former members of the HSWP did not automatically transfer to the new party, therefore, of its 700,000 members, only 50,000 people became members of the WWW in the six months that passed before the first free elections in March 1990.

The left wing of the HSWP took shape into the Workers Party ( Munkáspárt , formerly the Hungarian Communist Workers Party).

1990s - 2000s

The post of party chairman was occupied by Rezho Nersch (1989–1990), Gyula Horn (1990–1998), Laszlo Kovacs (1998–2004), Istvan Hiller (2004–2007), Ferenc Gyurcsany (2007–2009), Ildiko Landwai (since 2009) , Attila Meshterhazi (since July 10, 2010) ^[2] .

While in power, the VSP conducted a right-wing neoliberal policy, which included economy measures (the Bokros package) and the privatization of the social sphere, differing primarily from their conservative opponents, but not by their economic rejection.

At the parliamentary elections in April 2010, the party suffered a crushing defeat, receiving only 28 deputy seats in the first round (against 206 in Fidesz and PPCD ). In total, the party won 59 out of 386 in two rounds. The candidates of the party got the majority only in two single-member districts out of 176. The VSP only slightly surpassed the far-right Jobbik party.

A significant part of the party members in 2011–2013 left the GSP to the new center-left parties, the Democratic Coalition (Ferenc Gyurcsany), the Social Union (Katalin Sili), and Together 2014 ( Gordon Baynai ). On the other hand, the party was left by representatives of its left wing headed by Tamas Kraus .

Number of elected deputies

• Rezho Nierch , Hungarian reformer, party chairman in 1989–1990
• Imre Pozhgai , informal party leader in 1989–1990, lost presidential elections to conservative Arpad Gonts
• Gyula Horn , Prime Minister (1994–1998)
• Peter Meddyesh , Prime Minister (2002–2004)
• Ferenc Gyurcsany , Prime Minister (2004–2009)
• Istvan Hiller , Chairman of the Party (2004–2007)
• Laszlo Kovacs , chairman of the party (1998–2004), 2004–2010 - EU Commissioner for Tax and Customs Policy
• Attila Meshterhazi , party candidate for prime minister in the 2010 elections
• Laszlo Botka, interim leader of the party since 2014, mayor of Szeged

The VSP consists of regional associations ( területi szövetség ), one per district, and regional associations from local associations ( Helyi együttműködési társulás ), one per community.

The highest body is the congress ( kongresszus ), between congresses - the board ( választmánya ), between board meetings - the state presidium ( országos elnökség ), the highest official - the party chairman ( párt elnöke ), the highest control body - the state council on ethics and disciplinary issues ( országos etikai és fegyelmi ügyek tanácsa ), the highest audit body is the central audit committee ( központi pénzügyi ellenőrző bizottság ).

Youth organization: Societas - left youth movement ( Societas - Baloldali Ifjúsági Mozgalom ).

• VSP website - in Hungarian
• GSP Charter
• Peter Szigeti. The rise and fall of social democracy in Hungary