1994
1994
8 Feb. Hungary signs the framework document of the Partnership for Peace program, ratified during the Brussels summit in January.
20 Feb. At its 7th national convention, MDF elects Lajos Für party president and Sándor Lezsák managing vice-president.
8 March After 43 months of procrastination, Parliament passes a law, whose purpose was to screen out from public life former ‘arrow-cross bearers’, those carrying out forced relocation in 1956, and the undercover officers of the Ministry of the Interior’s former Department 3/3 and their principals.
31 March Premier Victor Chernomyrdyn signs an agreement in Budapest to settle the still pending $900 million former Soviet debt by 1996.
1 Apr. Foreign Minister Géza Jeszenszky submits Hungary’s official application for Community membership in Athens to the government of Greece, which presided over the European Union at the time.
7 Apr. Final session of Parliament, which had passed 219 laws and 213 amendments throughout its four-year term.
5 May Heading for Budapest from a campaign meeting in Miskolc, socialist party president Gyula Horn has a severe car accident.
29 May In the second round of the Parliamentary elections, MSZP is in first and SZDSZ is in second place. A government is formed in the course of the coalition’s negotiations started in June, 72% of which is not in opposition.
15 July Parliament passes the political program proposed by Gyula Horn, and the new cabinet takes its oath of office.
20 July Controlled by vice-presidents since January 1993, new presidents are appointed to Hungarian Television and Hungarian Radio, in the persons of director Ádám Horváth and editor János Szirányi, respectively.
12 Oct. An Audi plant, capable of producing 750 engines a day, is opened in Győr.
8 Nov. Parliament vetoes the previously passed act on the Budapest EXPO by a 70% majority, open vote.
23 Nov. Péter Ákos Bod, president of the National Bank of Hungary, resigns.
2 Dec. An express train bound for Budapest from Nyíregyháza crashes at Szajol, killing 29 and injuring 52. It is Hungary’s most severe railway tragedy in 20 years.
