# Hungary adopts the Fundamental Law, replacing the 1989 constitution

Date: 2011

On 18 April 2011 the [National Assembly](/organizations/national-assembly) adopted the Fundamental Law of Hungary, which entered into force on 1 January 2012 and replaced the 1989 constitution. Cardinal laws attached to it rewrote the Constitutional Court, judicial administration, and other referees that an ordinary majority cannot later unlock. The Venice Commission issued a critical opinion on the new constitution and the cardinal-law package. This Fact is the adoption sitting. It is not the 2013 Fourth Amendment taken alone, not a later recovery-fund deal, and not a campaign speech. The official text is the Fundamental Law; the Venice Commission opinion is the independent file.

## People

- Viktor Orbán: https://factrail.ai/people/viktor-orban

## Drivers

- Illiberal state capture in Hungary: https://factrail.ai/drivers/orban-illiberal-state-capture

## Sources

- https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/524bd8d4-33ba-4802-891f-d8959831ed5a_en?filename=2025+Rule+of+Law+Report+-+Country+Chapter+Hungary.pdf
- https://www.coe.int/en/web/venice-commission/-/cdl-ad-2011-016-e

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

Canonical: https://factrail.ai/facts/hu-fundamental-law-2011