 | |
| Abbreviation | Szövetség–Aliancia |
| Chairman | László Gubík |
| Deputy Chairman | Tibor Csenger Péter Őry |
| Founder | Béla Bugár (SMK-MKP) Edit Bauer Gábor Zászlós (MKÖ-MKS) |
| Founded | 1994/2019/2023[a] |
| Merger of | Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement Coexistence Hungarian Civic Party (SMK-MKP) |
| Preceded by | MKÖ-MKS (Alliance, legally)[1] |
| Headquarters | Čajakova 4048/8 811 05Bratislava |
| Membership(2023) |  10,285[2] |
| Ideology | Hungarian minority interests[3] Hungarian nationalism[4] National conservatism[5] Pro-Europeanism[6] |
| Political position | Centre-right[6] |
| European affiliation | European People's Party |
| Colours | Orange |
| Slogan | «Hungarians. Nationalities. Regions.» (Hungarian:«Magyarok. Nemzetiségek. Regiók.») (Slovak:«Maďari. Národnosti. Regióny.») |
| National Council | 0 / 150 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 15 |
| Regional governors[b] | 0 / 8 |
| Regional deputies[9][c] | 70 / 419 |
| Mayors[d] | 263 / 2,904 |
| Local councillors[e] | 1,765 / 20,523 |
| Website | |
| www www | |
| |
TheHungarian Alliance (Slovak:Maďarská Aliancia;Hungarian:Magyar Szövetség,Szövetség–Aliancia) is apolitical party in Slovakia for theethnic Hungarianminority, previously known simply as the "Alliance", it was founded when "Party of the Hungarian Community" andMost–Híd merged into "Hungarian Community Togetherness". It is led byLászló Gubík since September 2024.[13]
The SMK-MKP party was founded asParty of the Hungarian Coalition (Hungarian:Magyar Koalíció Pártja,Slovak:Strana maďarskej koalície) in 1998 in response to an anti-coalition law passed. The law prevented parties from forming electoral cartels at election time, which small parties had used to overcome the 5%electoral threshold. Three parties representing the Hungarian minority had formed such a cartel, called 'Hungarian Coalition' in the1994 election, and had won 10.2% of the vote. To comply with the new law, the three parties – theHungarian Christian Democratic Movement,Coexistence, and theHungarian Civic Party – merged to form the Party of the Hungarian Coalition.[citation needed]
Following the 2002 parliamentary election in Slovakia, the Party of the Hungarian Coalition joined the Slovak governing coalition for the second time (after the 1998–2002 term), obtained 321,069 votes (11.16% of all votes), and was the most stable political party in the governing coalition. At the EU parliament election in 2004 the party won 13.24% of the vote.[citation needed]
The party had 4 ministers (Pál Csáky – Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minority Rights,László Miklós – Minister of Environment,László Gyurovszky – Minister of Construction and Regional Development andZsolt Simon – Minister of Agriculture) and 6 state secretaries (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Construction and Regional Development) in the Slovak government.Béla Bugár, the president of the Party of the Hungarian Coalition at that time, was the Vice President of the National Council of the Slovak Republic.[citation needed]
In theparliamentary election of 17 June 2006, the party won 11.7% of the popular vote and 20 out of 150 seats, but lost its participation in the government.[citation needed]
In 2009, a moderate faction led by high-ranking SMK-MKP members foundedMost–Híd. In theparliamentary election of 12 June 2010, the party missed the 5% border needed for participation in parliament by receiving 4.33% and lost its position in parliament. The SMK-MKP also proved unable to obtain 5% of the votes in the2012 parliamentary election. On 22 September 2012, the party was renamed toParty of the Hungarian Community (Hungarian:Magyar Közösség Pártja,Slovak:Strana maďarskej komunity).
In the2014 European elections, SMK–MKP came in seventh place nationally, receiving 6.53% of the vote and electing 1MEP.[14] In the2019 European elections, SMK–MKP fell just short of the 5% threshold with 4.96% thus losing their MEP.
Összefogás–Spolupatričnosť (Unity) was founded in the autumn of 2019, citing disputes between the Hungarian parties as a reason for its formation, which could have caused the Hungarian minority not to be represented on theNational Council after the2020 Slovak parliamentary elections. Former Member of the European Parliament for SMK-MKP,Edit Bauer, and former Deputy Chairman ofHungarian Civic Party (MNI), Gábor Zászlós, were instrumental in the formation of the party.[15]
In connection with the upcoming parliamentary elections, the members of Összefogás–Spolupatričnosť negotiated an electoral cooperation with four other ethnic Hungarian parties (Most–Híd, SMK-MKP,MKDA-MKDSZ,MF-MF).[16][17] On 24 November 2019, Összefogás–Spolupatričnosť approved the joint action of the Hungarian parties in the parliamentary elections. Összefogás–Spolupatričnosť was then transformed into MKÖ-MKS, and gained 30 seats on the candidate list. Szabolcs Mózes, the party president, ran second on the list, Örs Orosz, the party vice president, ran sixth, and József Nagy, a formermember of the European Parliament, ran ninth. Mózes stated that they were joining to ensure the representation of the Hungarian minority and to contribute to the change of government and the removal of theSMER-SD party from power.[18] Eventually, SMK-MKP and the Hungarian Forum agreed to run on the Összefogás–Spolupatričnosť list which renamed themselves toHungarian Community Togetherness (Hungarian:Magyar Közösségi Összefogás,Slovak:Maďarská komunitná spolupatričnosť;MKÖ-MKS). They only reached 3.91% and Most–Híd got 2.05% in the2020 parliamentary election. This was the first election, in which no Hungarian minority party reached the 5% threshold.
After their failure, MKÖ-MKS, SMK-MKP, andMost–Híd entered into negotiations about further cooperation. On 20 August 2020, they signed a declaration of cooperation inKomárno, a town in southwestern Slovakia.[19] In March 2021, they announced that the negotiations had been successful, and that a new party "Szövetség – Aliancia" would be established. The new party would have three officers: a chairman nominated by SMK-MKP, a chairman of the Republican Council nominated by Most–Híd, and the post of expert vice-chairman nominated by MKÖ-MKS.[20]
Szövetség–Aliancia was formed by merging the parties SMK-MKP, Most–Híd, and MKÖ-MKS at the assembly inŠamorín on 2 October 2021.[21] The assembly was preceded by two years of negotiations between five Hungarian political parties about the possibility of cooperation. The goal of joining forces was declared as a return to parliament after thenext election, or to be part of the governing coalition.[21] SMK-MKP continued to exist as a faction within Alliance under thebackronymHungarian Conservative Platform (Hungarian:Magyar Konzervatív Platform, MKP).
Krisztián Forró, the then-chairman of the SMK-MKP, became the chairman of the party, and the then-chairman of MKÖ-MKS, Szabolcs Mózes, was elected vice-chairman.[21] In addition, the chairman of the Republican Council,László Sólymos, the then-chairman of the Most–Híd party, was elected, as well as the vice-chairman and chairmen of the platforms, members of the republican presidency, republican committee and mandatory commissions.[21] Sólymos said: "We have laid the foundations for the political, parliamentary representation of the Hungarians, the nationalities and the regions in which we live".[21] The Alliance declared that it would negotiate cooperation with all Slovak parties, such as support for theEU,NATO, andVisegrad Four membership, but would not cooperate with extremist parties like thePeople's Party Our Slovakia andDirection – Slovak Social Democracy.[21][20]
In 2023, a few months before the election, however Most–Híd left the united party again over a dispute about allowing formerOĽaNO MPGyörgy Gyimesi on the list.[22] Leaving only the SMK-MKP and Összefogás factions in the party.
On the December 9, 2023 congress, the name of the party was changed to Hungarian Alliance, platforms were abolished and Gyimesi, who joined the party a few days earlier, became deputy chairman.[23] In the second round of the2024 presidential election, HA endorsed Smer-backedPeter Pellegrini who won the election.[24]
SMK-MKP was said to be an ally of the right-wing ruling party of HungaryFidesz.[25] The party became a member of theEuropean People's Party (EPP) on 7 June 2000 and later their MEPs joinedEuropean People's Party group to which Fidesz belonged too. They also shared their affiliation to theCentrist Democrat International.
After the split and formation of Most–Híd, Fidesz maintained close ties to SMK-MKP.[26] After Fidesz' victory in the2018 Hungarian parliamentary election József Menyhárt called it "good news" for ethnic Hungarian communities.[27] In the2019 European Parliament electionViktor Orban even publicly endorsed SMK-MKP.[28][29] Like their predecessors SMK-MKP and MKÖ-MKS, Alliance is a member of EPP and an observer of the CDI.
The primary party organisations made up the basis of the party. By the end of March 2003, the number of these local organisations of SMK-MKP was 521 and the number of members was 10,983. The party congress was the highest body of the party. Between two congresses the highest body of the party is the National Council.
Each elected functionary and body gets elected in form of democratic, secret elections. The party leadership of the districts co-ordinates the work of local institutions within district.
Between 1998 and 2007 the chairman of SMK-MKP wasBéla Bugár. The Chairman of the National Council wasZsolt Komlósy, the Parliamentary Group Leader wasGyula Bárdos and Executive Deputy Chairman wasMiklós Duray.Pál Csáky was the chairman of the Minister's Club.
On 31 March 2007 Pál Csáky was elected for chairman by the assembly of party, thus succeeding the more moderate Béla Bugár.[30]
Béla Bugár established the partyMost–Híd on 30 June 2009, stating that Csáky was too nationalist. His party (its name meaning "bridge" in Hungarian and Slovak) wanted to emphasise cooperation between Hungarians and Slovaks.[31]
After the merger, the three former parties remained platforms within the party responsible for upholding the quotas between the factions with MKP hold the largest portion.[32] After a dispute over the candidacy György Gyimesi, the Most–Híd platform left the party and used theMKDA-MKDSZ party to regain their party status under the new name "Most–Híd 2023".
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungarian Coalition (MKDM–E–MPP) | |||||
| 1994 | 292,936 | 10.19 (#3) | 17 / 150 | New | Opposition |
| Party of the Hungarian Coalition | |||||
| 1998 | 306,623 | 9.12 (#4) | 15 / 150 | 2 | SDK–SDĽ–SMK–SOP |
| 2002 | 321,069 | 11.16 (#4) | 20 / 150 |  5 | SDKÚ–SMK–KDH–ANO |
| 2006 | 269,111 | 11.68 (#4) | 20 / 150 |  0 | Opposition |
| 2010 | 109,638 | 4.33 (#7) | 0 / 150 | 20 | No seats |
| 2012 | 109,484 | 4.28 (#8) | 0 / 150 | 0 | No seats |
| Party of the Hungarian Community | |||||
| 2016 | 105,495 | 4.05 (#10) | 0 / 150 | 0 | No seats |
| Hungarian Community Togetherness | |||||
| 2020 | 112,662 | 3.90 (#9) | 0 / 150 | 0 | No seats |
| Alliance | |||||
| 2023 | 130,183 | 4.39 (#9) | 0 / 150 | 0 | No seats |
| Election | List leader | Votes | % | Rank | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party of the Hungarian Coalition | |||||||
| 2004 | Edit Bauer | 92,927 | 13.24% | 5th | 2 / 14 | New | EPP-ED |
| 2009 | 93,750 | 11.33% | 3rd | 2 / 13 | 0 | EPP | |
| Party of the Hungarian Community | |||||||
| 2014 | Pál Csáky | 36,629 | 6.53% | 7th | 1 / 13 | 1 | EPP |
| 2019 | József Menyhárt | 48,929 | 4.96% | 7th | 0 / 13 | 1 | – |
| Hungarian Alliance | |||||||
| 2024 | József Berényi | 57,350 | 3.88% | 8th | 0 / 15 | 0 | – |
| Election | Candidate | 1st round | 2nd round | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Rank | Votes | % | Rank | ||
| Party of the Hungarian Coalition | |||||||
| 1999 | Endorsed Rudolf Schuster | 1,396,950 | 47.4% | 1st | 1,727,481 | 57.2% | 1st |
| 2004 | Endorsed Eduard Kukan | 438,920 | 22.1% | 3rd | eliminated | ||
| 2009 | Endorsed Iveta Radičová | 713,735 | 38.1% | 2nd | 988,808 | 44.5% | 2nd |
| Party of the Hungarian Community | |||||||
| 2014 | Gyula Bárdos | 97,035 | 5.1% | 5th | eliminated | ||
| 2019 | József Menyhárt[a] | 1,208 | 0.1% | 15th | eliminated | ||
| Endorsed Robert Mistrík[a] | 3,318 | 0.2% | 14th | ||||
| Hungarian Alliance | |||||||
| 2024 | Krisztián Forró | 65,588 | 2.91% | 4th | eliminated | ||
Súčasný župan Trnka teraz svoj mandát obhájil opäť ako nezávislý, ale už bez podpory OĽaNO a SaS, no s politickým krytím strán KDH, Aliancia - Maďari, Starostovia a nezávislí kandidáti, Šanca a DS.[The current mayor, Trnka, has now defended his mandate again as an independent, without the support of OĽaNO and SaS, but with the political backing of the parties KDH, Alliance - Hungarians, Mayors and Independent Candidates, Šanca and DS.]
A korábbi, összesen 42 megyei testületi pozíció a következő négy évben 54 főre duzzad.[The previous total of 42 regional council posts will swell to 54 for the next four years.]
Ráadásul, ha a nem önállóan indított, pusztán támogatott jelölteket is számítjuk, akkor a Szövetség eredménye még szebb, az Eperjesi kerületben 16 plusz mandátummal. Itt a párt a Hlas-SD/Smer-SD jelöltjeit támogatta.[In addition, if we count the candidates who were not nominated but merely supported, the Alliance's result is even better, with 16 extra seats in the Prešov Region. Here the party supported the candidates of Hlas–SD/Smer–SD.]
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