Changes in the Institutional Context of the Ombudsman System in the Republic of Hungary in 2012

Abstract

After the landslide electoral victory of the Fidesz-KDNP in 2010, the new Hungarian government with a two-thirds majority in Parliament adopted a new Constitution which significantly modified the previous institutional structure. Written by the former Commissioner for Civil Rights (as the Ombudsman of general competence used to be called) who is now Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, this article describes, analyses and evaluates the changes which terminated the previous Ombudsman system consisting of four Commissioners and established an independent authority to uphold information rights on the one hand, and a unified Ombudsman structure with increased responsibilities and powers on the other hand.