Christian Democratic People's Party (Hungary)
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The Christian Democratic People's Party (Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt, KDNP) is a political party in Hungary.
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[edit] History
It was founded between 1943 and 1944 by Hungarian Catholic statesmen, intellectuals and ecclesiastical persons (like bishop Vilmos Apor, Béla Kovrig (president of the University of Kolozsvár), László Varga, gr. József Pálffy etc.), formed it from a civil organisation called Catholic Social Folk Movement. The party called KDNP started to come into being soon, being formed from KSzN; but was illegal until the end of the war, some of its conspirators (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 (Sándor Bálint ethnographer, István Barankovics political newspaper writer), 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 of Varga's and Barankovics's attempts, they didn't manage to get an official admittance for working and take part in elections. Connectedly with this, 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.
[edit] Re-foundation and present
It was re-founded in 1989 with its present name, although the link between the historical party and the present one is somewhat disputed.
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.
As of 2007, its leader is Zsolt Semjén.
[edit] Results
Reults on the lists:
| year | result | voters |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.46% | 317,183 |
| 1994 | 7.03% | 379,573 |
| 1998 | 2.59% | 116,065 |
| 2002 | 3.90% | 219,029 |
| 2006 | 42.03% | 2,272,979 |
In the 2002 election the party ran together with the Centre Party, and in 2006 with Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union.
[edit] Parliamentary representation
| year | vote percentage | seats | popular votes | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1947 | 16.4% | opposition | ||
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| 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 |
Note: In 2006 the party ran on the lists of Fidesz. The number of seats won by the KDNP is shown in parentheses for that year.
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- Website (only in Hungarian)
| Political parties of Hungary |  |
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Represented in the |
Hungarian Socialist Party (190) | Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union (141) | Christian Democratic People's Party (23) | Alliance of Free Democrats (20) | Hungarian Democratic Forum (11) | Association for Somogy * (1) |
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Not represented in the Parliament ** |
MIÉP-Jobbik Third Way Alliance of Parties (MIÉP & Jobbik) (2.20%) | Hungarian Communist Workers' Party (0.41%) | Centre Party (0.32%) | Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party (0.02%) | others (0,27%) |
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Represented in the |
Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union (12) | Hungarian Socialist Party (9) | Alliance of Free Democrats (2) | Hungarian Democratic Forum (1) |
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