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HUNGARY |
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Last Updated: Friday 4 March 2005 National anthem |
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Nomadic Magyars settled the Hungarian plains over a thousand years ago. They form the dominant stock of Hungary and are a Finno-Ugric people first appearing in Europe in 9th century. Charlemagne had earlier added the region to his empire and named it as the Ostmark, or the Eastern Mark where he aimed stopping the invasions of eastern hordes. Yet new Magyar invaders of Ugric stock, coming on horseback and travelling across the plains of Russia from the Yura or Ugra region on either side of the Ural Mountains, soon ravaged the mid-Danube Plain. As a very close- knit society the Magyars retained their language, settled and developed their culture on the northern fringe of the Balkan area.
10.2 million consisting of 90% Hungarian, 4% Roma, 2.6% German, 2% Serb, 0.8% Slovak, 0.7% Romanian. Of these 67% are Roman Catholics, 20% Calvinists, 5% Lutherans and 8% agnostics. The capital, Budapest, has a population of 2 million inhabitants and is built on the two banks of the Danube. Buda is on high ground on the right bank and has ancient fortifications and government buildings. Pest, on the left-side lowland, constitutes the other commercial and industrial half.
While 98% of the population speak Magyar, or Hungarian, only some 2% speak other languages. Magyar, a member of the Finno-Ugric languages, is also spoken in Burgenland province, Austria, and in parts of Vienna. The Finno-Ugric family of languages is the Uralic branch of the Ural-Altaic group hailing from northern Asia.
The present constitution is that adopted on the 18th August 1949 following the onset of communism. However it was variously amended in 1972, 1989 and 1997. Revision in the post-communist era established the democratic principle of parliamentary oversight and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister, secured legal rights for individuals and reformed the system of judicial appointment.
St Stephen’s Day on the 20th August is the national day and it commemorates the unification brought about by King Stephen I in 1001. The current president is Ferenc Madl who was elected by the National Assembly for a period of five years on the 6th June, 2000. Voting to the 386-seat National Assembly, or Orszaggyules, is under a system of proportional and direct representation for a four-year term. In the election last held in April, 2002 the Hungarian Socialist Party held 178 seats and their allies, the Alliance of Free Democrats 20 seats. Following the resignation of prime minister Peter Medgyessy in August, 2004, the Socialists chose Ferenc Gyurcsany, 43, a business tycoon and former sports minister, to lead a coalition with the Free Democrats.Budapest, the capital, is an administrative division (fovaros) in its own right. There are a further 20 urban counties (megyei varos) being Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Fejer, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, and Zalaegerszeg. There are also 19 counties (megye), 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 and Zala. On the 1st May,2004 Hungary joined the European Union. ANTHEM. The national anthem is Isten áldd meg a magyart, God Bless the Hungarians. The words are by Ferenc Kolcsey and it was set to music by Ferenc Erkel.God Bless the Hungarians God Bless the Hungarians With good spirit and prosperity, Extend over them a protective arm Should they combat the enemy; Torn apart by misfortune for a long time, Bestow unto them many happy years, For they have expiated Their past and the future. Radio Budapest - external service of Hungarian Radio, including programmes in English.MTI - state-owned news agency Havaria Press – private news agency
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