Centralization and reduced financial resources : a worrying picture for Hungarian municipalities

Siket, Judit (author)

The article provides an overview of governmental regulations affecting the operation and economic situation of local self-governments in Hungary during the pandemic crisis. The research covers the period from the declaration of the state of emergency in March 2020 until the end of the year. The study aims to explore the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government's special provisions related to local democracy concerns in times of crisis. The article analyses the relationship between the pandemic and governmental measures that affected the economic position of local self-governments. It does not provide an objective assessment, but rather presents and analyses the relevant resources. The article is primarily based on the review of the legal framework and the relevant Constitutional Court's decisions. The analysis demonstrates that the Constitutional Court did not or only partially defended the legal interests of local self-governments. The governmental measures 'stood the test of constitutionality'. The study confirms the initial assumption that the excessive centralization process was significantly reinforced, while the position of local self-governments in the state organs system weakened. However, some measures cause concern as they highlight deeper problems in the Hungarian legal system, irrespective of the pandemic.

• Language: English
• Keywords: constitutional requirements, Covid-19 pandemic crisis, European Charter of Local Self-Government, exceptional legal order, local self-government, municipal finance facilities
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FU - Faculty of Administration
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 261-280
• Numbering: Vol. 19, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-128556
• UDC: 352:3.072.1(439)
• ISSN on article: 2591-2240
• DOI: 10.17573/cepar.2021.1.12
• COBISS.SI-ID: 66307331

Note

Povzetek v slov. jeziku se nahaja na koncu revije, na str. 289.

• Publication date in RUL: 19.07.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Central European public administration review
• Shortened title: CEPAR
• Publisher: Fakulteta za upravo
• ISSN: 2591-2240
• COBISS.SI-ID: 293849600

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 20.05.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Centralizacija in zmanjšanje finančnih sredstev : zaskrbljujoči obeti za madžarske občine

Abstract

Članek podaja pregled vladnih predpisov, ki so vplivali na delovanje in ekonomski položaj lokalnih samouprav na Madžarskem med pandemijo covida-19. Raziskava zajema obdobje od razglasitve izrednega stanja marca 2020 do konca leta. Cilj študije je bil raziskati izvajanje posebnih določb Evropske listine lokalne samouprave, povezanih z vprašanji lokalne demokracije v kriznih časih. Članek analizira razmerje med pandemijo in vladnimi ukrepi, ki so vplivali na ekonomski položaj lokalnih samouprav. Članek ne podaja objektivne ocene, temveč predstavlja in analizira ustrezne vire. Temelji predvsem na pregledu pravnega okvira in ustreznih odločb ustavnega sodišča. Analiza tako kaže, da ustavno sodišče ni podprlo ali pa je le delno podprlo pravne interese lokalnih samouprav, vladni ukrepi pa so "prestali preizkus ustavnosti". Študija potrjuje prvotno domnevo, da se je pretirana centralizacija dodatno okrepila, medtem ko je položaj lokalnih samouprav v sistemu državne uprave oslabel. Nekateri ukrepi še posebej vzbujajo skrb, saj kažejo na globlje težave v madžarskem pravnem sistemu, ne glede na pandemijo.

• Keywords: ustavne zahteve, pandemija covida-19, Evropska listina lokalne samouprave, izredni pravni red, lokalna samouprava, financiranje občin

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: European Social Fund
• Project number: EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00007
• Name: Aspects on the development of intelligent, sustainable and inclusive society: social, technological, innovation networks in employment and digital economy

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Funding programme: Hungary
• Name: Aspects on the development of intelligent, sustainable and inclusive society: social, technological, innovation networks in employment and digital economy