GeographyCountry name: Republic of Hungary (local: Magyar Koztarsasag). Capital: Budapest. Government type: parliamentary democracy. Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I). Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system. Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20 urban counties (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros). Counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala. Urban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg. Capital city: Budapest. Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border. Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes. Total area: 93,030 kmē. Highest point: Kekes 1,014 m. Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers. Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs. |
Under
the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy,
introducing so-called "goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty
elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999
and the EU in 2004.
Hungary
was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World
War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II.
In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow.
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