1980 Hungarian parliamentary election

1980 Hungarian parliamentary election

8 June 1980

All 352 seats in the National Assembly
Turnout97.03%
  First party Second party
 
Leader János Kádár
Party MSZMP Independents
Alliance HNF HNF
Seats won 252 100
Seat change 37 37

Parliamentary elections were held in Hungary on 8 June 1980.[1] The Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party was the only party to contest the elections, and won 252 of the 352 seats, with the remaining 100 going to independents selected by the party.[2]

All prospective candidates had to accept the program of the Patriotic People's Front, which was dominated by the HSWP. While it was possible for more than one candidate to run in a constituency,[3] only 15 of the 352 constituencies had more than one candidate.[4]

Results

Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Patriotic People's FrontHungarian Socialist Workers' Party7,462,59399.28252+37
Independents100–37
Against54,0700.72
Total7,516,663100.003520
Valid votes7,516,66399.20
Invalid/blank votes60,7380.80
Total votes7,577,401100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,809,40797.03
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

The activity of the parliament

The new Parliament passed a law on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in 1980,[5] which created the legal prerequisites for the opening of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant in 1982. The sixth five-year plan was adopted, based on the economic goals decleared at the 12th Congress of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party.[6] The constitution and the election rules were amended in 1983, allowing for multiple candidates in every single-member district and the recall of elected representatives.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p899 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p931
  3. ^ Burant, Stephen R. Hungary: A Country Study p181
  4. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p923
  5. ^ "Act I of 1980 on atomic energy" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Act III of 1980 on the Sixth Five-Year Plan for the national economy" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Act II of 1983 on the amendment of the Constitution" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Act III of 1983 on the election of members of parliament and councils" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 11 September 2025.