Hungarian history: Post Second War

1949

20 August (St. Stephen's Day): Constitution of Hungarian People's Republic proclaimed

1956

23 October: beginning of the Hungarian Revolution which is brutally crushed by Soviet troops on 4 November 1956.

1958

Execution of Imre Nagy, Prime Minister during the Hungarian Revolution

1957-1989

Socialist People's Republic with one-party system

11 September 1989

Hungary opens its borders to Germans from the GDR.

23 October 1989

Proclamation of the Republic: End of the Socialist People's Republic

1990

First free elections: victory of the conservative Hungarian Democratic Forum under Prime Minister Antall. Hungary joins the Council of Europe (6 November 1990).

February 1991

Visegrád Group formed (together with Poland and the then Czechoslovakia)

19 June 1991

Red Army withdraws from Hungary.

1 July 1991

Warsaw Pact dissolved

16 December 1991

Association Agreement signed with the EC (in force since 1 February 1994)

December 1991

Admission to NATO's North Atlantic Cooperation Council

1994

Second free elections: victory of the Hungarian Socialist Party under Prime Minister Gyula Horn; coalition formed with the Alliance of Free Democrats

1 April 1994

Hungary applies to join the EU.

19 June 1995

President Göncz is elected for a second term.

13 December 1997

Hungary invited to begin accession negotiations with the European Union at the European Council meeting in Luxembourg

16 December 1997

NATO Protocol of Accession signed

March 1998

First (screening) phase of EU accession negotiations begins.

10/24 May 1998

Parliamentary elections: victory of FIDESZ-MPP (Alliance of Young Democrats) which forms a coalition with the FKgP and MDF under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

10 November 1998

Accession negotiations with EU begin.

12 March 1999

Hungary joins NATO.

August 2000

Professor Ferenc Mádl elected President

7 and 21 April 2002

Parliamentary elections won by the MSzP which forms a coalition government with the SzDSz headed by Primie Minister Péter Medgyessy.

December 2002

Successful conclusion to negotiations for the EU accession treaty

May 2004

Hungary joins the European Union