Christian Democratic People's Party (Hungary)
Encyclopedia
The Christian Democratic People's Party (Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt, KDNP) is a political party
in Hungary
.
statesmen, intellectuals, and ecclesiastical such as Bishop Vilmos Apor
, Béla Kovrig (president of the University of Kolozsvár
), László Varga
and General József Pálffy, among others. The party was the offshoot of a civil organization, the Catholic Social Folk Movement (KSzN). The new KDNP was not conferred legal status until the end of World War II,and even then, only briefly. Some of its founders (like László Varga) were imprisoned for some days by detachments of the Arrow Cross Party
(but the communist-dominated after-war authorities also refused to legalize it for months).
On 13 October 1944 the founders, with the participation of lay Christian persons (ethnographer Sándor Bálint, political newspaper writer István Barankovics), founded the party under the name of KDNP. At the beginning of 1945 they elected István Barankovics as principal secretary. But World War II, and four or five months of semi-legality, ended soon, and the new post-war authorities did not permit the party to operate further. Despite Varga's and Barankovics's attempts, they did not manage to get an official admittance for working and take part in elections. Meanwhile, there were growing opposition between two parts (Barankovics said to concede too much for the communists-influenced authorities without effect): the carnal (left-), Christian socialist wing (led by Barankovics) and the conservative-clerical (right-) wing (led by József Mindszenty's confidant, József Pálffy). The left wing got an increasing ascendancy in the party; on 8 May 1945 Barankovics became president instead of the former (Pálffy); and the party changed its name to DNP (Democratic People's Party). The Pálffy-group founded a new party called KDNP, but it did not manage to remain legal in an atmosphere of increasing Soviet influence.
DNP was a democratic and anti-communist organisation. Conferring with Barankovics, Mátyás Rákosi
in 1949 amidst threats wanted the leaders to help him in the show trial
against Mindszenty (the cardinal was in prison yet), but Barankovics refused it and dismissing his party, escaped to Austria (in an American diplomat's car). So many people of him followed his example, others were imprisoned by communists. That is why Barankovics had to cease functioning in 1949 due to Communist rule.
, took part in its re-activation.
It was part of the Parliament between 1990 and 1998. From 1998 on, it has been closely associated with Fidesz
. In 2005 Fidesz
and KDNP signed an election co-operation as a result of which KDNP made it to the Parliament.
At the 2006 elections this alliance gained strength, winning 42.0% of the list votes and 164 representatives out of 386 in the Parliament
. The party decided to form a self-contained parliamentary faction with 23 representatives. It is the third biggest faction in the Hungarian Parliament. The faction is in close cooperation with the Fidesz faction.
, its leader is Zsolt Semjén
.
Note: In the 2002 election the party ran together with the Centre Party
, in 2006 and 2010 the party ran on the lists of Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union
. The number of seats won by the KDNP is shown in parentheses for that years.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
History
The party was founded in 1944 by Hungarian CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
statesmen, intellectuals, and ecclesiastical such as Bishop Vilmos Apor
Vilmos Apor
Blessed Baron Vilmos Apor de Altorja was the Bishop of Győr during World War II who became famous for protesting against the persecution of the Hungarian Jews...
, Béla Kovrig (president of the University of Kolozsvár
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
), László Varga
László Varga
László Varga is a Hungarian football player who currently plays for Gyori ETO.- References :**...
and General József Pálffy, among others. The party was the offshoot of a civil organization, the Catholic Social Folk Movement (KSzN). The new KDNP was not conferred legal status until the end of World War II,and even then, only briefly. Some of its founders (like László Varga) were imprisoned for some days by detachments of the Arrow Cross Party
Arrow Cross Party
The Arrow Cross Party was a national socialist party led by Ferenc Szálasi, which led in Hungary a government known as the Government of National Unity from October 15, 1944 to 28 March 1945...
(but the communist-dominated after-war authorities also refused to legalize it for months).
On 13 October 1944 the founders, with the participation of lay Christian persons (ethnographer Sándor Bálint, political newspaper writer István Barankovics), founded the party under the name of KDNP. At the beginning of 1945 they elected István Barankovics as principal secretary. But World War II, and four or five months of semi-legality, ended soon, and the new post-war authorities did not permit the party to operate further. Despite Varga's and Barankovics's attempts, they did not manage to get an official admittance for working and take part in elections. Meanwhile, there were growing opposition between two parts (Barankovics said to concede too much for the communists-influenced authorities without effect): the carnal (left-), Christian socialist wing (led by Barankovics) and the conservative-clerical (right-) wing (led by József Mindszenty's confidant, József Pálffy). The left wing got an increasing ascendancy in the party; on 8 May 1945 Barankovics became president instead of the former (Pálffy); and the party changed its name to DNP (Democratic People's Party). The Pálffy-group founded a new party called KDNP, but it did not manage to remain legal in an atmosphere of increasing Soviet influence.
DNP was a democratic and anti-communist organisation. Conferring with Barankovics, Mátyás Rákosi
Mátyás Rákosi
Mátyás Rákosi was a Hungarian communist politician. He was born as Mátyás Rosenfeld, in present-day Serbia...
in 1949 amidst threats wanted the leaders to help him in the show trial
Show trial
The term show trial is a pejorative description of a type of highly public trial in which there is a strong connotation that the judicial authorities have already determined the guilt of the defendant. The actual trial has as its only goal to present the accusation and the verdict to the public as...
against Mindszenty (the cardinal was in prison yet), but Barankovics refused it and dismissing his party, escaped to Austria (in an American diplomat's car). So many people of him followed his example, others were imprisoned by communists. That is why Barankovics had to cease functioning in 1949 due to Communist rule.
Re-foundation and present
It was re-founded in 1989 with its present name. The link between the historical party and the present one is somewhat disputed, although early prominents, like László VargaLászló Varga
László Varga is a Hungarian football player who currently plays for Gyori ETO.- References :**...
, took part in its re-activation.
It was part of the Parliament between 1990 and 1998. From 1998 on, it has been closely associated with Fidesz
Hungarian Civic Union
Hungarian Civic Union may refer to:*Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union, a centre-right political party in Hungary*Another name for the Hungarian Civic Party, a political party representing the Hungarian minority in Romania...
. In 2005 Fidesz
Hungarian Civic Union
Hungarian Civic Union may refer to:*Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union, a centre-right political party in Hungary*Another name for the Hungarian Civic Party, a political party representing the Hungarian minority in Romania...
and KDNP signed an election co-operation as a result of which KDNP made it to the Parliament.
At the 2006 elections this alliance gained strength, winning 42.0% of the list votes and 164 representatives out of 386 in the Parliament
National Assembly of Hungary
The National Assembly or Diet is the parliament of Hungary. The unicameral body consists of 386 members elected to 4-year terms. Election of members is based on a complex system involving both area and list election; parties must win at least 5% of the popular vote in order to enter list members...
. The party decided to form a self-contained parliamentary faction with 23 representatives. It is the third biggest faction in the Hungarian Parliament. The faction is in close cooperation with the Fidesz faction.
, its leader is Zsolt Semjén
Zsolt Semjén
Zsolt Semjén is a Hungarian politician, currently minister without portfolio and Deputy Prime Minister in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán...
.
Parliamentary representation
| Year | Vote percentage | Seats | Popular votes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | - | - | - | - |
| 1947 | 16.5% | 60 | 824,259 | opposition |
| 1990 | 6.46% | 21 | 317,183 | government |
| 1994 | 7.03% | 22 | 379,573 | opposition |
| 1998 | 2.59% | 0 | 116,065 | extra-parliamentary |
| 2002 | 3.90% | 0 | 219,029 | extra-parliamentary |
| 2006 | 42.03% | 164 (23) | 2,272,979 | opposition |
| 2010 | 52,73% | 263 (36) | 2,703,857 | government |
Note: In the 2002 election the party ran together with the Centre Party
Centre Party (Hungary)
The Centre Party is a centrist political party in Hungary.At the last legislative elections, on 9 and 23 April 2006, the party won 0.32% of the popular vote and no seats...
, in 2006 and 2010 the party ran on the lists of Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union
Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union
The Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union is a major conservative party in Hungary. At the 2010 election in Hungary, Fidesz-KDNP won a two-thirds majority of seats by gaining 52% of the votes, with Fidesz winning 227 seats and KDNP winning 36...
. The number of seats won by the KDNP is shown in parentheses for that years.