Gábor Kuncze
Encyclopedia
Gábor Kuncze is a Hungarian liberal politician
, former chairman of the Hungarian
Alliance of Free Democrats
(SZDSZ).
After his political carrier he became anchorman at the radio channel Klubrádió and at the television channel ATV.
in 1950. After graduating from the piarist grammar school in Kecskemét
he studied geotechnical engineering
in the Ybl Miklós Technical College in Budapest and graduated from there in 1974. Later he got a degree of Economics specialized in Industry Management and Organization. Kuncze is married to mathematics teacher Katalin Fellegi.
and in October 1994 a member of the National Executive Committee of the party. From April 1997 until June 1998 he was the chairman of the Alliance of Free Democrats. He retired from his position following the party's relatively weak results on the 1998 parliamentary elections
. However, he took over the liberal party again on July 1, 2001 and was reelected as party chairman in 2003 and 2005. In 2006 Kuncze announced not to run for the chair in the following year or any executive positions in the future.
Kuncze has been a member of parliament since 1990. He was the leader of the Parliament group of the party from 1993 to 1994, and from 1994 until 1998 Minister of Interior and Deputy Prime Minister. After 1998 - as one of the leading opposition politicians in the parliament - he heavily criticised the work of Orbán
's government. He initiated the introduction of a two-level minimum salary system, but his proposal was not negotiated by the National Assembly
- that time with a right-wing majority. He also heavily criticised the governing Fidesz
for their decision to hold plenary sessions of the unicameral National Assembly
only every third week.
Politics of Hungary
Politics of Hungary takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. The Prime Minister is the head of government of a pluriform multi-party system, while the President is the head of state and holds a largely ceremonial position.Executive power is exercised by the...
, former chairman of the Hungarian
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...
Alliance of Free Democrats
Alliance of Free Democrats
The Alliance of Free Democrats – Hungarian Liberal Party is a liberal party in Hungary, led since July 2010 by Viktor Szabadai . The SZDSZ is a member of the ELDR and of Liberal International...
(SZDSZ).
After his political carrier he became anchorman at the radio channel Klubrádió and at the television channel ATV.
Biography
Kuncze was born in PápaPápa
Pápa is a historical city in Veszprém county, Hungary, located close to the northern edge of the Bakony Hills, and noted for its baroque architecture. With its 33,000 inhabitants, it is the cultural, economic and tourism centre of the region....
in 1950. After graduating from the piarist grammar school in Kecskemét
Kecskemét
Kecskemét is a city in the central part of Hungary. It is the 8th largest city of the country, and the county seat of Bács-Kiskun.Kecskemét lies halfway between the capital Budapest and the country's third-largest city, Szeged, 86 kilometres from both of them and almost equal distance from the two...
he studied geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering
Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering is important in civil engineering, but is also used by military, mining, petroleum, or any other engineering concerned with construction on or in the ground...
in the Ybl Miklós Technical College in Budapest and graduated from there in 1974. Later he got a degree of Economics specialized in Industry Management and Organization. Kuncze is married to mathematics teacher Katalin Fellegi.
Political career
Kuncze joined the party in August 1992, two years after the first free and democratic parliamentary elections following the collapse of the Communist system. In November 1992 he was elected a member of the National AssemblyNational 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...
and in October 1994 a member of the National Executive Committee of the party. From April 1997 until June 1998 he was the chairman of the Alliance of Free Democrats. He retired from his position following the party's relatively weak results on the 1998 parliamentary elections
Hungarian parliamentary election, 1998
The results of the Hungarian parliamentary election of 1998 are as follows:The election was a significant defeat for the governing Socialist Party and their coalition allies , the Alliance of Free Democrats and a narrow surprise victory for Viktor Orbán's right-wing Fidesz.The successful...
. However, he took over the liberal party again on July 1, 2001 and was reelected as party chairman in 2003 and 2005. In 2006 Kuncze announced not to run for the chair in the following year or any executive positions in the future.
Kuncze has been a member of parliament since 1990. He was the leader of the Parliament group of the party from 1993 to 1994, and from 1994 until 1998 Minister of Interior and Deputy Prime Minister. After 1998 - as one of the leading opposition politicians in the parliament - he heavily criticised the work of Orbán
Viktor Orbán
Viktor Orbán is a Hungarian populist and conservative politician and current Prime Minister of Hungary...
's government. He initiated the introduction of a two-level minimum salary system, but his proposal was not negotiated by the National Assembly
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...
- that time with a right-wing majority. He also heavily criticised the governing Fidesz
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...
for their decision to hold plenary sessions of the unicameral National Assembly
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...
only every third week.