First Orbán Government Explained

Cabinet Name:	First Orbán Government
Political Party:	Fidesz, MDF, FKgP
Previous:	Horn Government
Legislature Term:	1998-2002
Last Election:	2002 election
Election:	1998 election
Opposition Leader:	Gyula Horn, László Kovács (MSZP) Gábor Kuncze, Bálint Magyar (SZDSZ) István Csurka (MIÉP)
Opposition Party:	MSZP, MIÉP and SZDSZ
Cabinet Number:	65th
State Head:	Árpád Göncz (Ind.) Ferenc Mádl (Ind.)
Government Head:	Viktor Orbán
Date Dissolved:	27 May 2002
Date Formed:	8 July 1998
Flag:	Flag of Hungary.svg
Jurisdiction:	Hungary
Successor:	Medgyessy Government

The First Orbán Government was the fourth democratically elected government in Hungary after the regime change. It existed between 1998 and 2002. Its creation was made possible by the FKgP: the party withdrew 82 candidates in the second round of the election, so FKgP voters voted for the local Fidesz candidate instead, thus reversing the election result. Due to the resignations in the Parliament afterwards, the votes of the way smaller but still large number of 48 smallholder representatives were essential for the formation of the government. The governmental relationship between the two parties was formed by the coalition agreement developed by the negotiating delegations, led by László Kövér and Béla Szabadi. The coalition government consisted of three parties: Fidesz, FKgP and MDF. The latter was introduced to the Parliament with the help of Fidesz. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took his oath of office on July 6, 1998, and his ministers took office on July 8, two days later. The coalition was dissolved in 2001, if not formally, but on its merits: the coalition agreement virtually expired. The FKgP could not even recall Imre Boros, even though the right to nominate belonged to the party. From the moment that József Torgyán, the chairman of the FKgP, was forced to resign as a minister because of his son's so called "cassette case", although he was able to retain his position within the party, but his position weakened considerably: his party faction expelled the party chairman from the group with votes from Fidesz supporters and in violation of house rules. He assured the government of the support of five members who had previously been expelled or separated from the smallholder faction, leaving a majority in the National Assembly for a time. At the same time, the government received external support from MIÉP.

Party breakdown

Beginning of term

Party breakdown of cabinet ministers in the beginning of term:

Fidesz	6
FKgP	4
MDF	1
Independents	7

End of term

Party breakdown of cabinet ministers in the end of term:

Fidesz	7
FKgP	4
MDF	1
Independents	6

Composition

Office	Image	Incumbent	Political party		In office
Prime Minister		Viktor Orbán		Fidesz	6 July 1998 - 27 May 2002
Minister of the Prime Minister's Office		István Stumpf		Independent	8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Internal Affairs		Sándor Pintér		Independent	8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Foreign Affairs		János Martonyi		Independent	8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Finance		Zsigmond Járai		Independent	8 July 1998 - 31 December 2000
		Mihály Varga		Fidesz	31 December 2000 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Economy		Attila Chikán		Independent	8 July 1998 - 31 December 1999
		György Matolcsy		Independent	31 December 1999 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development		József Torgyán		FKgP	8 July 1998 - 15 February 2001
		Imre Boros		FKgP	15 February 2001 - 25 March 2001
		András Vonza		FKgP	25 March 2001 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Justice		Ibolya Dávid		MDF	8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Health		Árpád Gógl		Fidesz	8 July 1998 - 31 December 2000
		István Mikola		Independent	31 December 2000 - 27 May 2002
Minister of National Cultural Heritage		József Hámori		Independent	8 July 1998 - 31 December 1999
		Zoltán Rockenbauer		Fidesz	31 December 1999 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Education		Zoltán Pokorni		Fidesz	8 July 1998 - 15 July 2001
		József Pálinkás		Fidesz	15 July 2001 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Social Affairs		Péter Harrach		Fidesz	8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Defence		János Szabó		FKgP	8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Environment		Pál Pepó		FKgP	8 July 1998 - 19 June 2000
		Ferenc Ligetvári		FKgP	19 June 2000 - 30 November 2000
		Béla Turi-Kovács		FKgP	30 November 2000 - 27 May 2002
Minister of Transportation, Communicationand Water		Kálmán Katona		Independent	8 July 1998 - 31 May 2000
		László Nógrádi		Fidesz	31 May 2000 - 30 November 2000
		János Fónagy		Fidesz	30 November 2000 - 27 May 2002
Minister for Youth and Sport		Tamás Deutsch		Fidesz	1 January 1999 - 27 May 2002
Minister without portfoliofor Secret Services		László Kövér		Fidesz	8 July 1998 - 2 May 2000
		Ervin Demeter		Independent	2 May 2000 - 27 May 2002
Minister without portfoliofor the coordination of the PHARE programme		Imre Boros		FKgP	4 October 2004 - 9 June 2006

References

József Bölöny: Magyarország kormányai 1848–2004 (Governments of Hungary from 1848 to 2004) Az 1987–2004 közötti időszakot feldolgozta és sajtó alá rendezte Hubai László. 5. bővített és javított kiadás. (the period between 1987 and 2004 was written by László Hubai) Budapest, Akadémiai Kiadó. 2004.