Hungarian Democratic Forum
헝가리 민주포럼
A Hungarian party founded at Lakitelek in September 1987 and one of the defining political organisations of the change of system. Winning the most votes in the first free election of 1990, it led the governing coalition for four years and provided two prime ministers, József Antall and Péter Boross. After failing to enter parliament in 2010 it renamed itself Welfare and Freedom Democratic Community in 2011.
In depth
The Hungarian Democratic Forum was founded on 27 September 1987 in the garden of Sándor Lezsák's house in Lakitelek. The founding document was signed by Zoltán Bíró, Dénes Csengey, Sándor Csoóri, István Csurka, Gyula Fekete, Lajos Für, Rudolf Joó, Csaba Kiss Gy. and Sándor Lezsák. The 15-member presidium chosen at the national assembly of March 1989 elected Zoltán Bíró executive chairman, and on 21 October 1989 the second national assembly elected József Antall as the first chairman. Originally a markedly right-wing party, it embraced several ideological currents.
Winning the first election after the change of system in 1990, the MDF formed a government with the Independent Smallholders' Party (FKGP) and the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), with Antall as prime minister. Antall defined the MDF as a party resting on three pillars: the populist-national current, Christian democracy and national liberalism. After his death interior minister Péter Boross became prime minister. Between 1990 and 1994 several deputies were expelled or left; István Csurka founded MIÉP and Iván Szabó the MDNP.
In the 1998 election it won under 3 percent of the vote, but 18 of its candidates won constituencies and formed a faction, and it again became a governing party alongside Fidesz and the Smallholders, with party chairwoman Ibolya Dávid serving as justice minister from 1998 to 2002. After 2002 it distanced itself from Fidesz's right-wing line, and in the 2006 election it entered parliament on its own with 5.04 percent. In the 2009 European Parliament election it won one seat with Lajos Bokros at the head of its list.
Despite cooperating with the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) in 2010, it won only 2.67 percent and dropped out of parliament after twenty years, and Ibolya Dávid resigned as chairwoman. The new leadership decided in December 2010 to transform the party, and on 8 April 2011 it officially took the name Welfare and Freedom Democratic Community (JESZ).