The first Orbán government was the fourth democratically-elected government in Hungary after the end of communist rule. It existed between 1998 and 2002. Its creation was made possible by the FKgP: the party withdrew 82 candidates in the second round of the election, so FKgP voters voted for the local Fidesz candidate instead, thus reversing the election result. Due to the resignations in the Parliament afterwards, the votes of the way smaller but still large number of 48 smallholder representatives were essential for the formation of the government. The governmental relationship between the two parties was formed by the coalition agreement developed by the negotiating delegations, led by László Kövér and Béla Szabadi.
The coalition government consisted of three parties: Fidesz, FKgP and MDF. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took his oath of office on July 6, 1998, and his ministers took office on July 8, two days later. The coalition was dissolved in 2001, if not formally, but on its merits: the coalition agreement virtually expired. The FKgP could not even recall Imre Boros, even though the right to nominate belonged to the party. From the moment that József Torgyán, the chairman of the FKgP, was forced to resign as a minister because of his son's so called "cassette case", although he was able to retain his position within the party, but his position weakened considerably: his party faction expelled the party chairman from the group with votes from Fidesz supporters and in violation of house rules. He assured the government of the support of five members who had previously been expelled or separated from the smallholder faction, leaving a majority in the National Assembly for a time. At the same time, the government received external support from MIÉP.
Party breakdown
Beginning of term Party breakdown of cabinet ministers in the beginning of term: Fidesz 6 FKgP 4 MDF 1 Independents 7
End of term Party breakdown of cabinet ministers in the end of term: Fidesz 7 FKgP 4 MDF 1 Independents 6
Vote in Parliament Election of the Prime MinisterViktor Orbán (Fidesz) Ballot → 6 July 1998 Required majority → 194 out of 386
Composition OfficeImageIncumbentPolitical partyIn officePrime MinisterViktor OrbánFidesz6 July 1998 - 27 May 2002Minister of the Prime Minister's OfficeIstván StumpfIndependent8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002Minister of Internal AffairsSándor PintérIndependent8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002Minister of Foreign AffairsJános MartonyiIndependent8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002Minister of FinanceZsigmond JáraiIndependent8 July 1998 - 31 December 2000Mihály VargaFidesz31 December 2000 - 27 May 2002Minister of Economy Attila ChikánIndependent8 July 1998 - 31 December 1999György MatolcsyIndependent31 December 1999 - 27 May 2002Minister of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentJózsef TorgyánFKgP8 July 1998 - 15 February 2001Imre BorosFKgP15 February 2001 - 25 March 2001András VonzaFKgP25 March 2001 - 27 May 2002Minister of JusticeIbolya DávidMDF8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002Minister of HealthÁrpád GóglFidesz8 July 1998 - 31 December 2000István MikolaIndependent31 December 2000 - 27 May 2002Minister of National Cultural HeritageJózsef HámoriIndependent8 July 1998 - 31 December 1999Zoltán RockenbauerFidesz31 December 1999 - 27 May 2002Minister of EducationZoltán PokorniFidesz8 July 1998 - 15 July 2001József PálinkásFidesz15 July 2001 - 27 May 2002Minister of Social Affairs Péter HarrachFidesz8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002Minister of DefenceJános SzabóFKgP8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002Minister of Environment Pál PepóFKgP8 July 1998 - 19 June 2000Ferenc LigetváriFKgP19 June 2000 - 30 November 2000Béla Turi-KovácsFKgP30 November 2000 - 27 May 2002Minister of Transportation, Communication and WaterKálmán KatonaIndependent8 July 1998 - 31 May 2000László NógrádiFidesz31 May 2000 - 30 November 2000János FónagyFidesz30 November 2000 - 27 May 2002Minister for Youth and SportTamás DeutschFidesz1 January 1999 - 27 May 2002Minister without portfolio for Secret ServicesLászló KövérFidesz8 July 1998 - 2 May 2000Ervin DemeterIndependent2 May 2000 - 27 May 2002Minister without portfolio for the coordination of the PHARE programmeImre BorosFKgP4 October 2004 - 9 June 2006
References
József Bölöny: Magyarország kormányai 1848–2004 (Governments of Hungary from 1848 to 2004) Az 1987–2004 közötti időszakot feldolgozta és sajtó alá rendezte Hubai László. 5. bővített és javított kiadás. (the period between 1987 and 2004 was written by László Hubai) Budapest, Akadémiai Kiadó. 2004.