New Fundamental Law Adopted — Replaces 1949 Communist-Era Constitution

On April 18, 2011, the Hungarian parliament adopted the new Fundamental Law (constitution) by a vote of 262-44, replacing the amended 1949 constitution. The entire drafting and adoption took less than three months, with no public referendum, limited opposition participation, and the Venice Commission barely consulted before the vote. It entered into force on January 1, 2012. The law introduced provisions including church-state alignment, a flat-tax mandate, and restrictions on the Constitutional Court's ability to review fiscal laws based on fundamental rights.