Introduction

• Author: Kádár, András
• Pages: 14-14

14

INTRODUCTION

The national legal system

The Hungarian legal system is a continental legal system that primarily follows German

legal traditions. It is governed by a strict statutory hierarchy in which lower-level statutes

shall not be in contradiction with higher-ranking statutes.

The most important principles are laid down by the Fundamental Law and the constitutional

rules a re augmented by laws, while detailed regulation is provided by Government and

ministerial decrees. The coherence of the system is guarded by t he Constitutional Court,

which may annul any statute th at is in contradiction with the Fundamental Law ( with the

exception of legislation relating to certain issues, such as the state budget).

The system is structured int o legal fields (e.g. criminal law, civil law, labour law,

administrative law) with most fields having their own procedural codes.

The judicial system has two levels (first instance and appeal level). However, extraordinary

remedies (such as a review by the Curia, Hungary’s Supreme Court) are also available. (In

criminal proceedings, an ordina ry third instance appeal is also available in certain cases.)

There is also the possibility of a judicial review of administrative decisions.

While international human rights treaties are integrated into the domestic legal system

through their promulgation in the form of acts of Parliament, courts, as a rule, refuse to

apply them directly. They are applied as points of reference at times if concurring

interpretation of domestic law is possible.

List of main legislation transposing and implementing the d irectives

The main pieces of legislation transposing and implementing the two directives are the

following:

− The Fundamental Law of Hungary (Article XV) – date of adoption: 25 April 2011,

grounds covered: all (not specified), material scope: non-discrimination in the

provision of fundamental rights;26

− Act CXXV of 2003 on Equal Treatment and the Promotion of Equal Opportunities (ETA)

– date of adoption: 28 December 2003, grounds covered: all (open-ended list),

material scope: all (not specified);27

− Act XXVI of 1998 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Guaranteeing of

their Equal Opportunities (RPD Act) – date of adoption: 1 April 1998, grounds

covered: disability, material scope: h ealthcare, education, employment, culture and

sports, housing, transportation, access to public services, accessible environment,

accessible communication;28

− Act I of 2012 on the Labour Code (Labour Code) – date of adoption: 6 January 2012,

grounds covered: all, material scope: employment;29

− Act V of 2013 on the Civil Cod e (Civil Code) – date of adoption: 26 February 2013,

grounds covered: all (not specified), material scope: all (not specified). 30

26 The Fundamental Law of Hungary (Magyarország Alaptörvénye), 25 April 2011,

http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A1100425.ATV.

27 Act CXXV of 2003 on Equal Treatment and the Promotion of Equal Opportunities (2003. évi CXXV. törvény

az egyenl bánásmódról és az esélyegyenlség elmozdításáról), 28 December 2003,

http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A0300125.TV.

28 Act XXVI of 1998 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Guaranteeing of their Equal

Opportunities (1998. évi XXVI. törvény a fogyatékos személyek jogairól és esélyegyenlségük

biztosításáról), 1 April 1998, http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=99800026.TV.

29 Act I of 2012 on the Labour Code (2012. évi I. törvény a munka törvénykönyvérl), 6 January 2012,

http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A1200001.TV.

30 Act V of 2013 on the Civil Code (2013. évi V. törvény a Polgári Törvénykönyvrl), 26 February 2013,

http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A1300177.TV.