Introduction
Introduction
The prosecution service was first introduced in Hungary by Act XXXIII of 1871, which was promulgated on June 10, 1871. Now June 10 is celebrated every year as the prosecutors’ day.
The service was set up as a national agency under the direction and supervision of the Minister of Justice, and was maintained substantially in the same form until the socialist era.
In 1949, the Constitution (Act XX) changed the status of the service, making the prosecution service accountable to Parliament only, hence following the socialist model as introduced by the Soviet Constitution of 1936.
In 1989, when democratic changes were initiated, the structure and legal independence of the prosecution service remained intact and only two relatively significant modifications were made. The length of term of the Prosecutor General was extended from four to six years. This placed him in a more independent position from the political forces since this term overlaps the four-year mandate of Parliament. The second change was also aimed at ensuring the separation of the administration of justice and political parties. Accordingly, a prohibition was enacted that prosecutors are not allowed to be members of political parties or engage in any political activity.
It is worth noting that the constitutional status of the prosecution service has been the subject of heavy debate since the political changes of 1989. Several reform proposals have been made, mostly with the purpose of subjecting the service to the Minister of Justice again. This has turned out to be a sensitive political issue and as any changes warrant the amendment of the Constitution by a two-thirds majority in Parliament, none of them has been passed.
At present the number of prosecutors is approximately 1,400. Vacancies are filled through an open application process. Requirements for appointment are the following: Hungarian citizenship, clean criminal record, legal degree, appropriate physical and psychological condition, completion of three-year practise as a trainee prosecutor, passing a professional state exam and one year of practise as a junior prosecutor.
The remuneration and advancement of prosecutors are regulated by law, under a system identical to that of the judges.
Recently, a comprehensive reform of the internal structure of the service has been implemented, and, in preparation to accession to the EU, many training courses have been initiated to make the prosecution service capable of responding to new challenges.
The prosecution service was first introduced in Hungary by Act XXXIII of 1871, which was promulgated on June 10, 1871. Now June 10 is celebrated every year as the prosecutors’ day.
The service was set up as a national agency under the direction and supervision of the Minister of Justice, and was maintained substantially in the same form until the socialist era.
In 1949, the Constitution (Act XX) changed the status of the service, making the prosecution service accountable to Parliament only, hence following the socialist model as introduced by the Soviet Constitution of 1936.
In 1989, when democratic changes were initiated, the structure and legal independence of the prosecution service remained intact and only two relatively significant modifications were made. The length of term of the Prosecutor General was extended from four to six years. This placed him in a more independent position from the political forces since this term overlaps the four-year mandate of Parliament. The second change was also aimed at ensuring the separation of the administration of justice and political parties. Accordingly, a prohibition was enacted that prosecutors are not allowed to be members of political parties or engage in any political activity.
It is worth noting that the constitutional status of the prosecution service has been the subject of heavy debate since the political changes of 1989. Several reform proposals have been made, mostly with the purpose of subjecting the service to the Minister of Justice again. This has turned out to be a sensitive political issue and as any changes warrant the amendment of the Constitution by a two-thirds majority in Parliament, none of them has been passed.
At present the number of prosecutors is approximately 1,400. Vacancies are filled through an open application process. Requirements for appointment are the following: Hungarian citizenship, clean criminal record, legal degree, appropriate physical and psychological condition, completion of three-year practise as a trainee prosecutor, passing a professional state exam and one year of practise as a junior prosecutor.
The remuneration and advancement of prosecutors are regulated by law, under a system identical to that of the judges.
Recently, a comprehensive reform of the internal structure of the service has been implemented, and, in preparation to accession to the EU, many training courses have been initiated to make the prosecution service capable of responding to new challenges.
