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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

constitutional requirements;Covid-19 pandemic crisis;European Charter of Local Self-Government;exceptional legal order;local self-government;municipal finance facilities;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2021
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FU - Faculty of Administration
UDC:	352:3.072.1(439)
COBISS:	66307331
ISSN:	2591-2240
Views:	350
Downloads:	91
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary title:	Centralizacija in zmanjšanje finančnih sredstev
Secondary 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.
Secondary keywords:	ustavne zahteve;pandemija covida-19;Evropska listina lokalne samouprave;izredni pravni red;lokalna samouprava;financiranje občin;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Source comment:	Povzetek v slov. jeziku se nahaja na koncu revije, na str. 289.
Pages:	str. 261-280
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ19
Issue:	ǂno. ǂ1
Chronology:	maj 2021
DOI:	10.17573/cepar.2021.1.12
ID:	13153731