Fourth Orbán Government

The fourth Orbán government (Hungarian: negyedik Orbán-kormány) was the Government of Hungary from 18 May 2018 to 24 May 2022, after the 2018 parliamentary elections, led by Viktor Orbán.

Fourth Orbán Government
72nd Cabinet of Hungary
Incumbent
Date formed	18 May 2018
Date dissolved	24 May 2022
People and organisations
Head of state	János Áder
Head of government	Viktor Orbán
Head of government's history	1998–2002, 2010–present
Deputy head of government	Zsolt Semjén Mihály Varga Sándor Pintér
Total no. of members	16
Member party	Fidesz KDNP
Status in legislature	Supermajority 133 / 199 (67%)
Opposition party	Jobbik Momentum MSZP DK LMP Párbeszéd
Opposition leader	Tamás Sneider (2018–2020) Péter Jakab (2020–2022)
History
Election	2018 election
Outgoing election	2022 election
Legislature term	2018–2022
Predecessor	Third Orbán Government
Successor	Fifth Orbán Government

Policy

Social policy

On 2018 October, Orban's government issued a decree that came into force, removing gender studies from the list of master's programmes. The subject will be banned at Hungarian universities.^[1][2][3]

On 2020 19 May, Hungary outlaws changing birth gender on documents. The law, proposed by Fidesz party, passed by 133 votes to 57.^[4][5]

In November 2020, it was announced that Orban's government wanted to amended the definition of family in its constitution to allow an effective ban on adoption by same-sex couples and to mention in the constitution that the mother is a woman, the father a man.^[6][7][8] On 15 December 2020 The Hungarian parliament passes a law that effectively bans adoptions by same-sex couples. According to the measure, only married couples can adopt children while single people must obtain special approval to adopt from the family affairs minister, Lawmakers also amended the Hungarian constitution, with a new definition for family as the union of a father who is a man and a mother who is a woman.^[9][10][11] The Law passed by 134 votes to 45, with 5 abstentions.^[9]

On June 5, 2021, it was announced that Orban's government wanted a new law banning the 'promotion' of homosexuality and gender change to children under the age of 18 in schools, films or books.^[12][13][14] On 15 June The Hungarian parliament passed a new law that bans the 'promotion' of homosexuality and gender change to children in schools, films or books. Critics compared it to the 2013 Russian gay propaganda law. The Law passed by 157 votes to 1, with 41 abstentions. Fidesz–KDNP, Jobbik and Mi Hazánk voted for the law.^[15][16]

George Soros

On 16 May 2018, George Soros's Open Society Foundations announced it would move its office from Budapest to Berlin amid Hungarian government interference.^[17][18][19]

On 20 June 2018, the Hungarian Parliament passed a "Stop Soros law." Under it, anyone "facilitating illegal immigration" will face a year in jail.^[20]

On 3 December 2018, the Soros-linked Central European University announced it would cease operations in Hungary and relocate to Vienna, after the Hungarian government refused to sign an agreement allowing it to continue operations in Hungary.^[21][22]

China

In April 2021, it was announced that Orban's government wanted to build Chinese Fudan University campus with Chinese loans in Hungary. According to the plan the university campus would be built by a pre-approved (Chinese state construction firm), with workers, building materials and a €1.25 billion (HUF 450 billion) loan from China.^{[23][24][25][26][27]}

According to an opinion poll by think tank Republikon Institute, 66% of Hungarians oppose and 27% support the idea of the campus.^[28][29] Some 89 percent of opposition voters oppose the plan, as do 31 percent of the ruling Fidesz party's own supporters.^[30] The Opposition parties have called for a referendum.^[31] On 5 June 2020, an estimated 10,000 protested against building the university.^[32]

Party breakdown

Beginning of term

Party breakdown of cabinet ministers in the beginning of term:

Fidesz	7
KDNP	2
Independents	6

End of term

Party breakdown of cabinet ministers in the end of term:

Fidesz	8
KDNP	2
Independents	5

Members of the Cabinet

Office	Name	Party		Term
Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister	Viktor Orbán		Fidesz	2018–2022
Minister of the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister	Antal Rogán		Fidesz	2018–2022
Prime Minister's Office
Deputy Prime Minister (General)	Zsolt Semjén		KDNP	2018–2022
Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office	Gergely Gulyás		Fidesz	2018–2022
Ministers
Deputy Prime Minister (for National Security) Minister of Interior	Sándor Pintér		Independent	2018–2022
Deputy Prime Minister (for Economic Politics) Minister of Finance	Mihály Varga		Fidesz	2018–2022
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade	Péter Szijjártó		Fidesz	2018–2022
Minister of Justice	László Trócsányi		Independent	2018–2019
	Judit Varga		Fidesz	2019–2022
Minister of Human Resources	Miklós Kásler		Independent	2018–2022
Minister of Innovation and Technology	László Palkovics		Independent	2018–2022
Minister of Agriculture	István Nagy		Fidesz	2018–2022
Minister of Defence	Tibor Benkő		Independent	2018–2022
Ministers without portfolio
Minister for National Politics, Church Affairs and Nationalities	Zsolt Semjén		KDNP	2018–2022
Minister for the Planning, Construction and Commissioning of the two new blocks at Paks Nuclear Power Plant	János Süli		KDNP	2018–2022
Minister for Managing National Wealth	Andrea Bártfai-Mager		Independent	2018–2022
Minister for Family Affairs	Katalin Novák		Fidesz	2020–2021

Composition

Government press officer Bertalan Havasi announced members of the cabinet on 27 April 2018.^[33]

Gen. Tibor Benkő, who has served as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Hungary since 2010 was nominated to the position of Minister of Defence. After retiring, he took office as a civilian.

Office	Image	Incumbent	Political party		In office
Prime Minister		Viktor Orbán		Fidesz	10 May 2018 – 16 May 2022
Deputy Prime Minister (General) Minister without portfolio for National Politics, Church Affairs and Nationalities		Zsolt Semjén		KDNP	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Deputy Prime Minister (for Economic Politics) Minister of Finance		Mihály Varga		Fidesz	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Deputy Prime Minister (for National Security) Minister of Interior		Sándor Pintér		Independent	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister of the Prime Minister's Office		Gergely Gulyás		Fidesz	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister of the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office		Antal Rogán		Fidesz	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade		Péter Szijjártó		Fidesz	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister of Justice		László Trócsányi		Independent	18 May 2018 – 30 June 2019
		Judit Varga		Fidesz	12 July 2019 – 24 May 2022
Minister of Human Resources		Miklós Kásler		Independent	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister of Innovation and Technology		László Palkovics		Independent	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister of Agriculture		István Nagy		Fidesz	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister of Defence		Tibor Benkő		Independent	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister without Portfolio for the planning, construction and commissioning of the two new blocks at Paks Nuclear Power Plant		János Süli		KDNP	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister without Portfolio for managing national wealth		Andrea Bártfai-Mager		Independent	18 May 2018 – 24 May 2022
Minister without Portfolio for family affairs		Katalin Novák		Fidesz	1 October 2020 – 31 December 2021

References

1. "Hungary's university ban on gender studies heats up culture war | DW | 18.10.2018". DW.COM.
2. "Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban bans gender studies programmes". The Independent. 25 October 2018.
3. Lauren Kent and Samantha Tapfumaneyi (19 October 2018). "Hungary's PM bans gender study at colleges saying 'people are born either male or female'". CNN.
4. "Hungary outlaws changing birth gender on documents". BBC News. 19 May 2020.
5. Walker, Shaun (19 May 2020). "Hungary votes to end legal recognition of trans people". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
6. "Hungarian government mounts new assault on LGBT rights". the Guardian. 11 November 2020.
7. "Hungary government proposes same-sex adoption ban". BBC News. 11 November 2020.
8. "Fidesz Submits New Laws to Shore up Position Before Next Election". 11 November 2020.
9. "Hungarian Lawmakers Pass Law Effectively Banning Same-Sex Adoption". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 15 December 2020.
10. "Hungary amends constitution to redefine family, effectively banning gay adoption". NBC News. 15 December 2020.
11. Taylor, Adam (15 December 2020). "Hungary approves constitutional change to effectively ban adoption by same-sex couples". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
12. "Hungary LGBT: Content aimed at children to be banned". BBC News. 11 June 2021.
13. "Fidesz to Prohibit 'Promotion of Homosexuality to Those Under 18'". 11 June 2021.
14. "Hungary proposes banning the 'promotion' of homosexuality to children". euronews. 11 June 2021.
15. "Despite Loud Protests, Fidesz-KDNP Votes in Bill Against 'Promoting Homosexuality'". 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
16. "Hungary passes law banning LGBT content in schools or kids' TV". the Guardian. 15 June 2021.
17. "George Soros foundation to close office in 'repressive' Hungary". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
18. "Soros foundation to leave Hungary". BBC News. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
19. "Soros foundation to close office in Budapest over Hungarian government's 'repressive' policies". The Telegraph. Reuters News Agency. 15 May 2018. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
20. "Help for migrants outlawed in Hungary". BBC News. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
21. Walker, Shaun (3 December 2018). "'Dark day for freedom': Soros-affiliated university quits Hungary". Retrieved 3 December 2018.
22. "George Soros-funded CEU 'forced out' of Budapest". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
23. Szabolcs, Panyi (6 April 2021). "Huge Chinese loan to cover the construction of Fudan University in Budapest".
24. "Fudan University's Budapest campus to be constructed by a Chinese company involved in spying scandals?". Daily News Hungary. 7 April 2021.
25. Makszimov, Vlagyiszlav (18 May 2021). "Budapest rejects Chinese university building site plans".
26. "Fudan University's planned Budapest campus runs into local opposition". South China Morning Post. 23 April 2021.
27. "Hungary Could Turn Into China's Trojan horse in Europe". 9 April 2021.
28. Komuves, Anita (3 June 2021). "Budapest names streets at planned Chinese university after Uyghurs, Hong Kong". Reuters. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
29. "Budapest mayor tries to rename streets in protest against China". www.aljazeera.com.
30. "Budapest mayor provokes Orbán with anti-China street names". POLITICO. 3 June 2021.
31. "Budapest Leadership Insists on Fudan Referendum". 7 May 2021.
32. "Thousands march against Hungary's plan to build Chinese university campus". South China Morning Post. 6 June 2021.
33. "Orbán Viktor lezárta konzultációit a kormányalakításról" (in Hungarian). kormany.hu. 27 April 2018. Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.