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Government Stats: compare key data on Hungary & Slovakia

Definitions

  • Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
  • Capital city > Geographic coordinates: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Capital city > Name: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Constitution: The dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments to a nation's constitution
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Executive branch > Cabinet: Cabinet includes the official name for any body of high-ranking advisers roughly comparable to a U.S. Cabinet. Also notes the method for selection of members.
  • Executive branch > Chief of state: The name and title of any person or role roughly equivalent to a U.S. Chief of State. This means the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government
  • Executive branch > Head of government: Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government.
  • Government type: A description of the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
  • Judicial branch: The name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.
  • Legal system: A brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
  • Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Political parties and leaders: Significant political organizations and their leaders.
  • Political pressure groups and leaders: Organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.
  • Suffrage: The age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted
  • International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  • Country name > Conventional long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Civil law system: Description.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Executive branch > Elections: Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election
  • Leaders > Prime minister: Government > Leaders > Prime minister
  • National symbol(s): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
  • Flag description: A written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  • Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Country name > Conventional short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Constitutional form: Constitutional form of government.
  • Transnational Issues > Disputes > International: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
  • Total businesses registered > Number: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward.
  • National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
  • Legislative branch > Elections: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Legislative branch > Election results: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Democracy and rights > Press freedom index: Compares countries by their degree of government censorship, according to the Press freedom index. This index, created by the non-governmental organization Reporters without borders (RWS), is ellaborated using data from an extensive annual survey sent to professional reporters throughout the world. The survey contains questions about the type and ownership of media present in the country, freedom of speech, violence exerted against reporters, election campaigns, access of political parties to the media, etc.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage: Percentage of seats held by women in country's national parliament or legislative houses.
  • Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. "
  • Executive branch > Election results: Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election (if any)
  • Judicial branch > Subordinate courts: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Basis of executive legitimacy: Basis of executive legitimacy.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
    Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
    Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
    Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
    Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
    Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
    Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
    Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
    Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
    Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
    Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
    Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics ...
    Full definition
  • Country name > Local short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press: Compares countries by freedom of the press. The lower the score, the more free the press of that country is. The scores are taken from the Freedom of the Press Index, elaborated by Freedom House, self-defined as "an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world". The data used in the index come from an annual survey of media independence in 197 countries and territories, assessing the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in each of them.
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament: Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber occupied by women.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote: Percentage of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
  • Democracy > Civil and political liberties: Civil and political liberties
    Units: Index Ranging from 7 (High Levels of Liberties) to 1 (Low
    Units: This is the average of two indicators - civil liberties and political liberties.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
  • National holiday: The primary national day of celebration - often independence day.
  • Capital > Geographic coordinates: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Democracy > First female parliamentarian: Year first woman elected or appointed to parliament.
  • Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Leaders > President: Government > Leaders > President
  • Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Democracy and rights > Democracy Index: DI 2012.
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient.
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Status Index 2006: The Status Index’s overall result represents the mean value of the scores for the dimensions “Political Transformationâ€? and “Economic Transformationâ€?. The mean value was calculated using the exact, unrounded values for both these dimensions, which, in turn, were derived from the ratings for the five political criteria (based on 18 indicators) and the seven economic criteria (based on 14 indicators). The table shows rounded scores for political and economic transformation as well as for the Status Index’s overall result. In some cases, therefore, the overall result differs slightly from the mean value.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Politics: Country politics.
  • International law organization participation: This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 55 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 114 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
  • Parliament > Seats held by men: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses.
  • Country name > Local long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency (years). Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses.
  • Leaders > President > Summary: Government > Leaders > President > Summary
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel: Date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state. Note that some countries had a “de facto” recognition in place long before the legal recognition.
  • Democracy > Democratic institutions rating: Democratic institutions
    Units: Scale ranging from -10 (autocratic) to +10 (democratic)
  • Executive branch > Note: This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government. Cabinet includes the official name for this body of high-ranking advisers and the method for selection of members. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election.
  • UN membership date: Date of United Nations Membership
  • Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people: DI 2012. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Total businesses registered > Number per 1000: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
  • Capital city: The location of the seat of government.
  • Capital > Name: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Legal origin: Legal origin identifies the origin of the Company Law or Commercial Code in each country
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • Spending > Expense > Current LCU: Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends."
  • Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout: The proportion of registered voters who actually voted.
  • Legislature (parliament) > People per member: Number of people each member of the legislature represents on average. The number of members of the legislature is the sum of the members of all chambers of parliament, if applicable.
  • Capital > Time difference: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Leaders > Prime minister > Profile: Government > Leaders > Prime minister > Profile
  • International relations: Country international relations.
  • Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Democracy > Female ministers: Women in government at ministerial level in 2000 (as % of total). Data were provided by states based on their definition of national executive and may therefore include women serving as ministers and vice ministers and those holding other ministerial positions, including parliamentary secretaries.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members: Members of the lower house of the legislature or of the only chamber in a unicameral system.
  • Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state: Head(s) of state.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes: Notes and remarks about the date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state.
  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
  • Democracy > Female parliamentarians: Seats in parliament held by women (as % of total). Data are as of 8 March 2002. Where there are lower and upper houses, data refer to the weighted average of women's shares of seats in both houses.
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Leaders > President > Profile: Government > Leaders > President > Profile
  • Role of head of state: Head of state.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote): This list shows the percentage of votes obtained by nationalist parties across Europe at the latest  elections held in their respective countries. Note that the percentages show the votes from all the parties combined, and only for general elections (some parties may obtain a quite higher percentage in regional elections). Nationalist parties usually hold right-wing populist views, and among their common demands are a higher control of immigration, extended social/labor rights for country nationals, and a restriction of islamic customs -such as the veil or the construction of mosques-, though their ideologies and goals vary from country to country. Some parties have as their main goal the seggregation of a region from its parent country (with examples in Scotland, Catalonia and Northern Ireland). Most of nationalist parties with elected members in the European Parliament belong to the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong: Strength of legal rights index measures the degree to which collateral and bankruptcy laws protect the rights of borrowers and lenders and thus facilitate lending. The index ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating that these laws are better designed to expand access to credit."
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU: Subsidies, grants, and other social benefits include all unrequited, nonrepayable transfers on current account to private and public enterprises; grants to foreign governments, international organisations, and other government units; and social security, social assistance benefits, and employer social benefits in cash and in kind."
  • Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees."
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Management Index 2006: This Index evaluates management by political decision-makers while taking into consideration the level of difficulty. The Management Index’s overall result is calculated by multiplying the intermediate result with a factor derived from the level of difficulty evaluation.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per $ GDP figures expressed per 1 $ gross domestic product.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women per million people: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Democracy > Female suffrage: Year in which women received the right to vote. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to vote.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Leaders > Prime minister > Summary: Government > Leaders > Prime minister > Summary
  • Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Capital > Daylight saving time: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties: Absolute number of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index>Political Transformation: Political Transformation The score for â€?Political Transformation“ is obtained by calculating the mean value of the ratings for the following criteria: · Stateness · Political Participation · Rule of Law · Stability of Democratic Institutions · Political and Social Integration
  • Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador: Name of ambassador to the USA.
  • Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
  • Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Failed States Index: FSI 2013.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age
  • Democracy > Female candidacy: Year in which women received the right to stand for election. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to stand for election.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration: The number of registered voters. The figure represents the number of names on the voters' register at the time that the registration process closes, as reported by the electoral management body.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote: The total number of votes cast in the relevant election. Total vote includes valid and invalid votes, as well as blank votes in cases where these are separated from invalid votes. More information on valid, invalid and blank votes can be found at aceproject.org
  • Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Procedures to register property > Number: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
  • Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes: January 1, 2005
  • Key ministers > Defence: Minister of Defence, 2005
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Key ministers > Interior: Minister of Interior, 2005
  • Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes: January 1, 2007
  • Red tape > Management time dealing with officials > % of management time: Management time dealing with officials (% of management time). Time dealing with officials is the percentage of management time in a given week spent on requirements imposed by government regulations (taxes, customs, labor regulations, licensing and registration).
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%). Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber held by women.
  • Spending > Expense > % of GDP: Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends."
  • Informal payments to public officials > % of firms: Informal payments to public officials are the percentage of firms expected to make informal payments to public officials to ""get things done"" with regard to customs, taxes, licenses, regulations, services, and the like."
  • Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees."
  • Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense: Subsidies, grants, and other social benefits include all unrequited, nonrepayable transfers on current account to private and public enterprises; grants to foreign governments, international organisations, and other government units; and social security, social assistance benefits, and employer social benefits in cash and in kind."
  • Parliamentary republic adoption date: Date each country adopted the parliamentary republic form of government.
  • Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader: January 1, 2005
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Key ministers > Education: Minister of Education, 2005
  • Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader: January 1, 2007
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament: Number of members of the legislature (sum of members of all chambers of parliament where applicable).
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current local currency.
  • Foreign relations > Diplomatic relations with Palestine: Indicates whether or not each country has diplomatic relations with Palestine.
  • Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours: Time to prepare and pay taxes is the time, in hours per year, it takes to prepare, file, and pay (or withhold) three major types of taxes: the corporate income tax, the value added or sales tax, and labor taxes, including payroll taxes and social security contributions.
  • Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Key ministers > Justice: Minister of Justice, 2005
  • Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes: January 1, 2006
  • Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes: The number of invalid votes, as reported by each country.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Key ministers > Health: Minister of Health, 2005
  • Capital city > Time difference: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth: Annual percentage growth of general government final consumption expenditure based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2000 U.S. dollars. General government final consumption expenditure (general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.
  • Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment.
  • Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
  • Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint: Policy uncertainty measures the share of senior managers who ranked economic and regulatory policy uncertainty as a major or very severe constraint.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Trademarks > Residents > Per capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Spending > Interest payments > % of expense: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Spending > Other expense > % of expense: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
  • Trademarks > Residents per million: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Procedures to register property > Number per million: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Ruling party: In power now.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • European Union > Council of the European Union votes: Number of votes each member state of the European Union has in the Council of the European Union.
  • Trademarks > Residents: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars.
  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader: January 1, 2007
  • Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader: January 1, 2005
  • Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
  • Management time dealing with officials > % of management time: Time dealing with officials is the percentage of management time in a given week spent on requirements imposed by government regulations (taxes, customs, labor regulations, licensing and registration).
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Key ministers > Finance: Minister of Finance, 2005
  • Key ministers > Foreign affairs: Minister of Foreign affairs, 2005
  • Democracy and rights > Last election: Last election.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Parliament > Seats held by men per million people: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant local currency.
  • Democracy and rights > Next election: Next election.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Spending > Other expense > Current LCU: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
  • Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members: Members of the lower (or sole) house.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: Statements on the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia issued by countries who do not recognize their sovereignty.
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of State of Palestine: Date on which Palestine was officially recognized as a state.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
STAT
Hungary
Slovakia
HISTORY
Administrative divisions 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 23 urban counties (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros)<br /><strong>counties:</strong> Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala<br /><strong>urban counties:</strong> Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg<br /><strong>capital city:</strong> Budapest 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 47 48 09 N, 17 07 E
Capital city > Name Budapest Bratislava
Constitution previous 1949 (heavily amended in 1989 following collapse of communism); latest approved 18 April 2011, signed 25 April 2011, effective 1 January 2012; amended several times, last in 2013 ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed September 1998; amended February 2001
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet of Ministers prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; other ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed and relieved of their duties by the president Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch > Chief of state Janos ADER (since 10 May 2012) President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004)
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010) Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 April 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Robert KALINAK, Peter KAZIMIR, Miroslav LAJCAK (since 4 April 2012), Lubomir VAZNY (since 26 November 2012)
Government type parliamentary democracy parliamentary democracy
Judicial branch Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly for nine-year terms); Curia (highest court; head of Curia elected by National Assembly, the other judges elected by the president on recommendation of the head of the National Office of the Courts, a separate administrative body); Regional Courts of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president) Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council)
Legal system civil legal system influenced by the German model civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky
Political parties and leaders Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Zsolt SEMJEN]<br />Democratic Coalition [Ferenc GYURCSANY]<br />Dialogue for Hungary [Benedek JAVOR, Timea SZABO, co-chairs]<br />Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]<br />Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP [Attila MESTERHAZY]<br />Movement for a Better Hungary or Jobbik [Gabor VONA]<br />Politics Can Be Different or LMP [13-member leadership; some positions currently vacant] <strong>parties in the Parliament: </strong><br />Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR]<br />Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan FIGEL]<br />Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]<br />Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK]<br />Ordinary People and Independent Personalities or OLaNO [Igor MATOVIC]<br />Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party or SDKU-DS [Pavol FRESO]<br /><strong>selected parties outside the Parliament:</strong><br />Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Ondrej DOSTAL]<br />Nation and Justice - Our Party or NAS [Anna BELOUSOVOVA]<br />Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef DURICA]<br />Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Jozsef BERENYI]<br />People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR]<br />People's Party - Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA]<br />Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders Air Work Group (works to reduce air pollution in towns and cities)<br />Danube Circle (protests the building of the Gabchikovo-Nagymaros dam)<br />Fourth Republic (Negyedik Koztarsasag) or 4K! (anti-Orban, pro-democracy Facebook movement emerged from a Facebook group, One Million for Freedom of the Press or "Milla," and plans to form a leftist political party)<br />Green Future (protests the impact of lead contamination of local factory on health of the people)<br />Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (Tarsasag a Szabadsagjogokert) or TASZ (freedom of expression, information privacy)<br />Hungarian Helsinki Committee (asylum seekers' rights, human rights in law enforcement and the judicial system)<br />Szolidaritas ("Solidarity," formed in October 2011 by three trade unions and an NGO - anti-Orban government)<br />"Egyutt 2014" ("Together 2014," a political electoral alliance bringing together Milla, Szolidaritas, and "Haza es Haladas," an association headed by former PM Gordon BAJNAI, to contest Fidesz and Viktor ORBAN in the 2014 parliamentary elections)<br />Civil Osszefogas Forum ("Civil Unity Forum," nominally independent organization that serves as pro-government mass organization, supporting ORBAN government's policies)<br /><br /><strong>environmentalists:</strong><br />Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society (Magyar Madartani Egyesulet) or MME<br />Green Alternative (Zold Alternativa) Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS<br />Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ<br />Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS<br />Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic<br />Medical Trade Association or LOZ<br />National Union of Employers or RUZ<br />Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK<br />The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS
Suffrage 18 years of age, 16 if married; universal 18 years of age; universal
International organization participation Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Country name > Conventional long form none Slovak Republic
Civil law system Based on codified Roman law , with elements of the Napoleonic civil code Descended from the Civil Code of the Austrian Empire (1811), influenced by German (1939\u201345) and Soviet (1947/68-89) legal codes during occupation periods, substantially reformed to remove Soviet influence and elements of socialist law after the Velvet Revolution (1989).
Executive branch > Elections president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held 29 May 2010 president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 March and 4 April 2009 (next to be held no later than April 2014); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president
Leaders > Prime minister Viktor Orban Robert Fico
National symbol(s) Holy Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen); turul (falcon) double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green; the flag dates to the national movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, and fuses the medieval colors of the Hungarian coat of arms with the revolutionary tricolor form of the French flag; folklore attributes virtues to the colors: red for strength, white for faithfulness, and green for hope; alternatively, the red is seen as being for the blood spilled in defense of the land, white for freedom, and green for the pasturelands that make up so much of the country three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days 5
Ranked 172nd.
18.5
Ranked 80th. 4 times more than Hungary

Country name > Conventional short form Hungary Slovakia
Constitutional form Republic Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continue in 2006 with Slovakia over Hungary's failure to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the strict Schengen border rules bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules
Total businesses registered > Number 948,403
Ranked 20th. 2 times more than Slovakia
420,812
Ranked 27th.

National anthem <strong>name: </strong>"Himnusz" (Hymn)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL <strong>name: </strong>"Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Janko MATUSKA/traditional
FAX 36 421
Legislative branch > Elections last held on 11 and 25 April 2010 (next to be held in spring 2014) last held on 10 March 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
Legislative branch > Election results percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote required for parliamentary representation in the first round) - Fidesz-KNDP 52.7%, MSZP 19.3%, Jobbik 16.7%, LMP 7.5%, other 3.8%; seats by party - Fidesz-KNDP 263, MSZP 59, Jobbik 47, LMP 16, independent 1 percent of vote by party - Smer-SD 44.4%, KDH 8.8%, OLaNO 8.6%, Most-Hid 6.9%, SDKU-DS 6.1%, SaS 5.9%, other 19.3%; seats by party - Smer-SD 83, KDH 16, OLaNO 16, Most-Hid 13, SDKU-DS 11, SaS 11
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index 26.09
Ranked 7th. 97% more than Slovakia
13.25
Ranked 17th.
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage 8.81%
Ranked 153th.
18.67%
Ranked 88th. 2 times more than Hungary

Independence 16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established) 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Executive branch > Election results Janos ADER elected president, National Assembly vote - 262 to 40; Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister, National Assembly vote - 261 to 107 Ivan GASPAROVIC reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 55.5%, Iveta RADICOVA 44.5%
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts regional courts of appeal; county courts, including the Municipal Court of Budapest; local courts regional and district civil courts; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit
Basis of executive legitimacy Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; efforts to counter money laundering, related to organized crime and drug trafficking are improving but remain vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy
Country name > Local short form Magyarorszag Slovensko
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press 36
Ranked 118th. 71% more than Slovakia
21
Ranked 164th.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament 10.4%
Ranked 119th.
20%
Ranked 56th. 92% more than Hungary

Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 4
Ranked 160th.
7
Ranked 95th. 75% more than Hungary

Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote 16.7%
Ranked 1st. 4 times more than Slovakia
4.6%
Ranked 9th.
Democracy > Civil and political liberties 5.5
Ranked 28th. The same as Slovakia
5.5
Ranked 33th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ 11.26 billion$
Ranked 44th. 22% more than Slovakia
9.23 billion$
Ranked 47th.

National holiday Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August(now Budapest) Constitution Day, 1 September
Capital > Geographic coordinates 47 30 N, 19 05 E 48 09 N, 17 07 E
Democracy > First female parliamentarian 1920 (elected) 1992 (elected)
Time required to start a business > Days 38 days
Ranked 78th. 52% more than Slovakia
25 days
Ranked 117th.

Leaders > President Janos Ader Ivan Gasparovic
Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment 0.98
Ranked 71st.
0.985
Ranked 61st. 1% more than Hungary

Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office Curia president elected from among its members for 9 years by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president of the republic; other Curia judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Council of Justice, a separate 15-member administrative body; all judges serve until the normal retirement age; Constitutional Court members elected by two-thirds vote of the National Assembly; members serve 12-year terms Supreme Court judge candidates proposed by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, a 17-member independent body to include the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential and governmental appointees; judges appointed by the president for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges appointed for 12-year terms
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index 6.96
Ranked 32nd.
7.35
Ranked 30th. 6% more than Hungary
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient 4.7
Ranked 37th. 9% more than Slovakia
4.3
Ranked 62nd.

Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Status Index 2006 9.16
Ranked 5th. 1% more than Slovakia
9.06
Ranked 6th.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days 16.5
Ranked 140th. The same as Slovakia
16.5
Ranked 141st.

Politics Prime Minister Viktor Orban&#039;s conservative Fidesz party&#039;s sweeping victory in the 2010 election has enabled it to push through radical legislative changes. The date of the next election has been set for 6 April 2014 PM Robert Fico from the leftist Smer party won general elections in March 2012. He was a critic of the former government&#039;s austerity programme
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Parliament > Seats held by men 352
Ranked 22nd. 3 times more than Slovakia
122
Ranked 78th.

Country name > Local long form none Slovenska republika
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years 2
Ranked 110th.
4
Ranked 31st. Twice as much as Hungary

Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.402
Ranked 121st.
1.11
Ranked 76th. 3 times more than Hungary

Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery None None
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires M. Andre GOODFRIEND (since August 2013) Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone [36] (1) 475-4400 [421] (2) 5443-3338
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Gyorgy SZAPARY (since 31 January 2011) Ambassador Peter KMEC
Parliament > Seats held by women 34
Ranked 67th. 21% more than Slovakia
28
Ranked 85th.

Leaders > President > Summary President Janos Ader Ivan Gasparovic was first voted into office in 2004
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel None
None
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating 10
Ranked 17th. 11% more than Slovakia
9
Ranked 40th.
Executive branch > Note to be elected, the president must win two-thirds of legislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in the third round government coalition - SDKU, SMK, KDH, ANO
UN membership date 14 Dec. 1955 19 Jan. 1993
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people 0.7
Ranked 18th.
1.36
Ranked 10th. 94% more than Hungary
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000 93.63
Ranked 10th. 20% more than Slovakia
78.22
Ranked 13th.

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 24
Ranked 14th. 2 times more than Slovakia
11
Ranked 154th.

Capital city Budapest Bratislava
Capital > Name Budapest Bratislava
Legal origin <a href=/country/gm>German</a> <a href=/country/gm>German</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita 1,116.18$ per capita
Ranked 36th.
1,713.17$ per capita
Ranked 30th. 53% more than Hungary

Spending > Expense > Current LCU 11.98 trillion
Ranked 4th. 577 times more than Slovakia
20.75 billion
Ranked 67th.

Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days 252
Ranked 10th. 59% more than Slovakia
158
Ranked 33th.

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout 73.5%
Ranked 60th. 5% more than Slovakia
70.1%
Ranked 71st.
Legislature (parliament) > People per member 25,988
Ranked 87th.
36,090
Ranked 72nd. 39% more than Hungary
Capital > Time difference UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Leaders > Prime minister > Profile <p>Mr Orban, whose right-wing Fidesz party won a two-thirds majority in parliament in April 2010, had previously served as prime minister from 1998 to 2002.</p> <p>Fidesz&#039;s landslide election victory has allowed it to push through a number of radical legislative changes.</p> <p>On coming to power, Mr Orban promised firm but moderate government, and sought to distance Fidesz from the far-right Jobbik party, which entered parliament for the first time.</p> <p>Fidesz pledged to cut taxes, curb tax evasion, create jobs and reduce state bureaucracy. Mr Orban made an immediate start by pruning the number of ministries to eight - leaving him with the smallest cabinet in the post-communist era.</p> <p>His biggest challenge was posed by Hungary&#039;s severe public debt problem, and he proceeded to tackle this with what the government itself describes as an &quot;unorthodox&quot; economic policy.</p> <p>This policy includes high taxes on banks and multinationals, the nationalisation of private pension funds and frequent verbal attacks on the IMF and European Union.</p> <p>Mr Orban&#039;s government also took steps to curb the independence of the Hungarian National Bank.</p> <p>Tense relations with IMF, EU</span> <p>Mr Orban&#039;s dealings with international financial institutions have been fraught with tension. He initially ruled out renewing the IMF-led loan that rescued Hungary from financial collapse in 2008, to avoid giving the organisation too much say over his government&#039;s economic policy.</p><p>Hungary reopened talks with the IMF in November 2011 with the aim of securing a credit lifeline. The IMF cut short these talks after only a few weeks, citing concerns over the independence of the Hungarian National Bank.</p> <p>Hungary agreed to make some changes to the central bank law in April 2012, and the European Commission said that this would allow negotiations over a 15bn-euro (£12bn) bailout package with the IMF to resume.</p> <p>However, in September 2012 Mr Orban rejected the terms of the IMF loan, saying that these were not in Hungary&#039;s interests and that his government would come up with alternative proposals.</p> <p>The following month, in a speech delivered on the anniversary of the failed 1956 revolution, Mr Orban criticised the EU for interfering in Hungary&#039;s domestic affairs.</p> <p>He maintains that his government&#039;s radical policies have prevented the Hungarian economy from collapsing and have reduced the country&#039;s debt.</p> <p>And indeed, Hungary&#039;s success in bringing its budget deficit down to below the permitted EU threshold of 3% and the country&#039;s emergence from recession in early 2013 appeared to indicate that these policies had had the desired effect.</p> <p>However, some of Mr Orban&#039;s more populist economic policies - for example, a move to make foreign-owned banks bear the consequences of Hungarian borrowers&#039; inability to pay back loans denominated in foreign currencies - have encountered domestic opposition. In December 2013, the Hungarian Supreme Court blocked the government&#039;s attempt to make the banks shoulder the losses on such loans, which many Hungarians took out before the 2008 financial crisis.</p> <p>Democratic concerns</span> <p>On the political front, a media law introduced in January 2011 was widely criticised at home and abroad for undermining media freedoms. The EU said that amendments to the media law passed in May 2012 failed to address concerns over the political independence of Hungary&#039;s Media Authority, and it called on the Hungarian government to do more to ensure media pluralism.</p> <p>At the beginning of 2012, Mr Orban&#039;s government introduced a new constitution to replace the one drafted in 1989, when Hungary was emerging from 40 years of communist rule. Mr Orban insists that a new constitution was necessary in order to complete the work of eradicating the legacy of communism, but critics point out that some of the checks and balances that are essential for the functioning of a democracy have been removed, and that the state apparatus is now permanently tilted in favour of the current ruling party. </p> <p>The Fidesz government has also been criticised for its failure to combat right-wing extremism and hate speech, after little was done to prevent members of the far-right Jobbik party from making inflammatory anti-Roma and anti-Jewish comments.</p> <p>The next parliamentary election, scheduled for 6 April 2014, is widely being seen as a test of the extent to which the Hungarian electorate approves of Mr Orban&#039;s populist policies, or whether charges of the erosion of democracy and an increasingly polarised society under Fidesz will play to the advantage of the left-of-centre opposition. </p> <p>Mr Fico&#039;s leftist Smer party won a landslide victory in early general elections in March 2012 - the first time since independence that a party had gained an absolute majority in the Slovak parliament. </p><p>The centre-right coalition of Iveta Radicova, which had governed since June 2010, was routed in a poll dominated by a corruption scandal that engulfed its main parties. </p> <p>Known as a straight-talking populist, Robert Fico was born to a working-class family in the provincial town of Topolcany in 1964 and trained as a lawyer in Communist Czechoslovakia. </p> <p>He became a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1987, and after the Velvet Revolution of 1989 joined the Party of the Democratic Left (SDL) - a successor of the Communist Party of Slovakia. </p> <p>In 1999 he founded his own party, Direction-Social Democracy (Smer), when it became clear that the SDL was a spent force. </p> <p>He raised his public profile by sharply criticising the radical economic reform programme implemented by the centre-right governments of Mikulas Dzurinda (1998-2006), which although hailed by investors and international financial institutions was not popular with ordinary Slovaks. </p> <p>Mr Dzurinda&#039;s policies were seen as having stimulated growth - earning Slovakia the nickname of &quot;the central European tiger&quot; - but were associated with high levels of unemployment and were seen as having a disproportionately negative effect on low wage-earners and welfare recipients. </p> <p>During the 2006 election campaign, Smer strove to project itself as a modern, socialist and pro-European party, but found it hard to maintain this image after it had formed a government in coalition with various ultra-nationalist and populist parties who were also opposed to Mr Dzurinda&#039;s policies. </p> <p>Mr Fico led Slovakia into the eurozone during his first stint as prime minister in 2006-2010, but his government&#039;s record of deteriorating relations with the country&#039;s Hungarian minority also tarnished its reputation in the eyes of the EU. </p> <p>Smer emerged as the largest grouping in the 2010 general election, but was unable to form a government and was ousted by a centre-right coalition led by Iveta Radicova, Slovakia&#039;s first female prime minister. </p> <p>Ms Radicova&#039;s government collapsed in October 2011 in a dispute between the coalition partners over whether Slovakia should support an expanded eurozone bailout fund, and the corruption scandal that broke in December completed public disillusionment with the ruling coalition. </p> <p>Mr Fico made defending the eurozone and boosting social welfare two of the main planks of his 2012 election campaign. He has promised to introduce higher taxes for the rich, but has also pledged to stick with the previous government&#039;s policy of reducing the deficit. </p>
International relations Hungary joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004. The EU has expressed concerns over what it sees as Hungary&#039;s failure to respect European democratic standards since 2010 Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and the eurozone in 2009. Its forces have taken part in the Nato-led operation in Afghanistan, and in peacekeeping duties in Kosovo
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million 25.34
Ranked 66th.
29.2
Ranked 61st. 15% more than Hungary

Democracy > Female ministers 18.9%
Ranked 38th. 2 times more than Slovakia
8.7%
Ranked 84th.
Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members 386
Ranked 29th. 3 times more than Slovakia
150
Ranked 64th.
Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state 5
Ranked 83th. The same as Slovakia
5
Ranked 107th.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes title=Hungary Restores Ties With Israel|url= http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/19/world/hungary-restores-ties-with-israel.html}} &lt;/ref&gt; Recognition extended under Czechoslovakia . Relations under Czechoslovakia were severed between June 1967 and February 1990. Diplomatic relations with Slovakia were established 1 January 1993.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days 395
Ranked 155th.
545
Ranked 98th. 38% more than Hungary

Democracy > Female parliamentarians 8.3%
Ranked 111th.
14%
Ranked 59th. 69% more than Hungary
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number 4
Ranked 155th. 33% more than Slovakia
3
Ranked 174th.

Leaders > President > Profile <p>A lawyer and member of the European Parliament for Hungary&#039;s governing Fidesz party, Janos Ader was elected President of Hungary in a parliamentary vote boycotted by the main opposition Socialist Party. The far-right Jobbik party voted against him, but the large Fidesz majority guaranteed his win.</p> <p>Mr Ader took over from Pal Schmitt, another Fidesz loyalist who had to resign in April after an Hungarian magazine revealed that his 1992 doctoral thesis was largely plagiarism.</p> <p>The new president, born in 1959, was a co-founder of Fidesz and took part in the talks that brought an end to Communist rule. He served as an MP in 1990-2009 and was speaker of parliament in 1998-2002. </p> <p>Mr Ader has pledged to make full use of his powers, which some Hungarian commentators have taken to mean that he will scrutinise proposed laws more carefully than did his predecessor.</p> <p>He is nonetheless closely associated with the controversial policies of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and helped draft changes to election laws and the role of the judiciary that prompted complaints from the European Commission.</p> <p>Ivan Gasparovic defeated former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar in the second round of the presidential elections in April 2004 on the eve of EU entry. </p> <p>During his election campaign he supported EU accession but criticised the minority government&#039;s EU-oriented economic reforms. </p> <p>In April 2009 Mr Gasparovic became the first president of Slovakia to win re-election, when he defeated his centre-right challenger, Iveta Radicova, in the second round of voting by more than ten percentage points. He received more than 55% of the vote. </p> <p>The president appoints the prime minister. However, parliament exercises legislative power. </p>
Role of head of state Ceremonial Ceremonial
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita 1,116.18$
Ranked 36th.
1,713.17$
Ranked 30th. 53% more than Hungary

Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote) 16.7%
Ranked 1st. 4 times more than Slovakia
4.6%
Ranked 9th.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 6
Ranked 144th.
9
Ranked 99th. 50% more than Hungary

Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong 7
Ranked 56th.
9
Ranked 19th. 29% more than Hungary

Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million 0.473
Ranked 68th.
0.795
Ranked 51st. 68% more than Hungary

Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU 7.57 trillion
Ranked 3rd. 541 times more than Slovakia
13.99 billion
Ranked 61st.

Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU 1.57 trillion
Ranked 6th. 559 times more than Slovakia
2.82 billion
Ranked 71st.

Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Management Index 2006 6.81
Ranked 15th.
7.32
Ranked 6th. 7% more than Hungary
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP 0.103$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 116th.
0.199$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 33th. 93% more than Hungary

Parliament > Seats held by women per million people 3.42
Ranked 90th.
5.1
Ranked 69th. 49% more than Hungary

Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment January 15, 1961 March 4, 1994
Democracy > Female suffrage 1918 1920
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days 79
Ranked 165th.
286
Ranked 18th. 4 times more than Hungary

Leaders > Prime minister > Summary Prime Minister Viktor Orban Robert Fico&#039;s party won a landslide victory in 2012
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million 0.503
Ranked 142nd.
2.5
Ranked 87th. 5 times more than Hungary

Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 3.52
Ranked 106th.
5.91
Ranked 86th. 68% more than Hungary

Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million 1.66
Ranked 124th.
3.05
Ranked 100th. 84% more than Hungary

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 2.41
Ranked 86th. 19% more than Slovakia
2.03
Ranked 92nd.

Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million 7.94
Ranked 134th.
52.86
Ranked 57th. 7 times more than Hungary

Capital > Daylight saving time +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita 93.63 per 1,000 people
Ranked 10th. 20% more than Slovakia
78.22 per 1,000 people
Ranked 13th.

Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU 1.06 trillion
Ranked 3rd. 1295 times more than Slovakia
817.95 million
Ranked 66th.

Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties 855,436
Ranked 8th. 7 times more than Slovakia
116,420
Ranked 26th.
Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index>Political Transformation 9.4
Ranked 4th. 2% more than Slovakia
9.2
Ranked 10th.
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador Szapáry, György György Szapáry Burian, Peter Peter Burian
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people 0.0112
Ranked 51st.
0.277
Ranked 5th. 25 times more than Hungary
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons 111
Ranked 53th.
1,523
Ranked 5th. 14 times more than Hungary
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita 550.49 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 42nd.
904.35 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 28th. 64% more than Hungary

Time required to build a warehouse > Days 212 days
Ranked 65th.
272 days
Ranked 36th. 28% more than Hungary

Failed States Index 47.6
Ranked 4th. 5% more than Slovakia
45.3
Ranked 5th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population 7.74 million
Ranked 54th. 80% more than Slovakia
4.3 million
Ranked 75th.
Democracy > Female candidacy 1,918
Ranked 150th.
1,920
Ranked 136th. About the same as Hungary
Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita 0.104 per 1,000 people
Ranked 31st.
0.213 per 1,000 people
Ranked 18th. 2 times more than Hungary

Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000 0.104
Ranked 31st.
0.213
Ranked 18th. 2 times more than Hungary

Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment January 18, 1992 January 1, 1993
Constitution > Note 18 the change in September 1998 allowed direct election of the president; the amendment of February 2001 allowed Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Votes 12
Ranked 9th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 16th.
National anthem > Name "Himnusz" (Hymn) "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Storm Over the Tatras)
Executive branch > A note to be elected, the <a href=/kp/president>president</a> must win two-thirds of legislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in the third round <a href=/cat/Government>government</a> coalition - SDK, SDL, SMK, SOP, KDH
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration 6.02 million
Ranked 54th. 45% more than Slovakia
4.16 million
Ranked 71st.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote 4.42 million
Ranked 54th. 52% more than Slovakia
2.91 million
Ranked 64th.
Time required to enforce a contract > Days 335 days
Ranked 129th.
565 days
Ranked 65th. 69% more than Hungary

Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita 0.597 per 1 million people
Ranked 108th.
1.67 per 1 million people
Ranked 67th. 3 times more than Hungary

Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_%28politician%29">Independent</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Procedures to register property > Number 4
Ranked 137th. 33% more than Slovakia
3
Ranked 158th.

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 25
Ranked 18th. 92% more than Slovakia
13
Ranked 137th.

Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes 12
Ranked 9th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 15th.
Key ministers > Defence Ferenc Juhasz (MSZP) Juraj Liska (SDKU)
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 2.09
Ranked 111th.
5.01
Ranked 75th. 2 times more than Hungary

Key ministers > Interior Monika Lamperth (MSZP) Vladimir Palko (KDH)
Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes 12
Ranked 10th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 17th.
Red tape > Management time dealing with officials > % of management time 13.5%
Ranked 11th. 2 times more than Slovakia
6.7%
Ranked 35th.

Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.402
Ranked 107th.
0.555
Ranked 93th. 38% more than Hungary

Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 35
Ranked 130th. 9% more than Slovakia
32
Ranked 160th.

National anthem > Note adopted 1844; the anthem is also known as "Isten, aldd meg a magyart" (God, Bless the Hungarians) adopted 1993, in use since 1844; the anthem"s music is based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku"
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > Votes 12
Ranked 9th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 16th.
Parties in the European Council during 2009 > Leaders > January 1 > 2009 > Leader Ferenc GyurcsÇ­ny Robert Fico
Parties in the European Council during 2007 > Leaders > January 1 > 2007 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > National party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_%28politician%29">Independent</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direction_-_Social_Democracy">Direction</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > National party Fidesz <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Democratic_and_Christian_Union_%E2%80%93_Democratic_Party">SDKÇ?-DS</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Leader Ferenc GyurcsÇ­ny MikulÇ­­ Dzurinda
Parties in the European Council during 2006 > Leaders > January 1 > 2006 > Votes 12
Ranked 8th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 14th.
Council of Europe > Date joined 11/6/1990 6/30/1993
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % 8.8%
Ranked 154th.
18.7%
Ranked 92nd. 2 times more than Hungary

Spending > Expense > % of GDP 45.02%
Ranked 4th. 46% more than Slovakia
30.87%
Ranked 38th.

Informal payments to public officials > % of firms 3.95%
Ranked 47th.
9.11%
Ranked 37th. 2 times more than Hungary

Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense 13.14%
Ranked 69th.
13.57%
Ranked 67th. 3% more than Hungary

Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense 63.16%
Ranked 23th.
67.42%
Ranked 15th. 7% more than Hungary

Parliamentary republic adoption date 1990 1993
Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue 9.69%
Ranked 22nd. 2 times more than Slovakia
4.13%
Ranked 48th.

Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader Ferenc Gyurcsány Mikuláš Dzurinda
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Los Angeles, New York
Key ministers > Education Balint Magyar (Free <a href=/encyclopedia/United-States-Democratic-Party>Democrats</a>) Martin Fronc (KDH)
FAX > Consulate(s) general Los Angeles, New York Los Angeles, New York
Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader Ferenc Gyurcsány Robert Fico
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.596
Ranked 108th.
1.67
Ranked 67th. 3 times more than Hungary

Stabilisation and Association process > Albania 3.3.2007 6.12.2006
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament 386
Ranked 34th. 3 times more than Slovakia
150
Ranked 72nd.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU 2247100000000 286297000000
Foreign relations > Diplomatic relations with Palestine Yes Yes
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours 304 hours
Ranked 59th.
344 hours
Ranked 50th. 13% more than Hungary

Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita 0.398 per 1 million people
Ranked 105th.
0.557 per 1 million people
Ranked 88th. 40% more than Hungary

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita 2.09 per 1 million people
Ranked 111th.
5.01 per 1 million people
Ranked 76th. 2 times more than Hungary

Key ministers > Justice Joszef Petretei (independent) Daniel Lipsic (KDH)
Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes 12
Ranked 9th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 15th.
Time to resolve insolvency > Years 2 years
Ranked 112th.
4 years
Ranked 46th. Twice as much as Hungary

Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX [36] (1) 475-4764 [421] (2) 5441-8861
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes 0.6%
Ranked 99th.
1.3%
Ranked 80th. 2 times more than Hungary
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX [1] (202) 966-8135 [1] (202) 237-6438
Key ministers > Health Jeno Racz (independent) Rudolf Zajac (ANO)
Capital city > Time difference 1 UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth -0.94%
Ranked 103th.
2.14%
Ranked 71st.

Time required to register property > Days 78 days
Ranked 54th. 5 times more than Slovakia
17 days
Ranked 138th.

Trademarks > Nonresidents 1,047
Ranked 29th.
1,148
Ranked 25th. 10% more than Hungary

Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense 9.44%
Ranked 66th.
10.52%
Ranked 61st. 11% more than Hungary

Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint 25.48%
Ranked 15th. Twice as much as Slovakia
12.73%
Ranked 26th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita 550.49 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 41st.
904.35 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 28th. 64% more than Hungary

Trademarks > Residents > Per capita 0.425 per 1,000 people
Ranked 29th.
0.541 per 1,000 people
Ranked 24th. 27% more than Hungary

Spending > Interest payments > % of expense 8.84%
Ranked 26th. 2 times more than Slovakia
3.94%
Ranked 52nd.

Spending > Other expense > % of expense 8.81%
Ranked 23th. 93% more than Slovakia
4.56%
Ranked 54th.

Trademarks > Residents per million 424.75
Ranked 29th.
541.02
Ranked 23th. 27% more than Hungary

Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.397
Ranked 106th.
0.556
Ranked 86th. 40% more than Hungary

Ruling party Fidesz Social Democrats
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 2.48
Ranked 76th. 3% more than Slovakia
2.41
Ranked 78th.

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 764.39
Ranked 29th.
798.92
Ranked 13th. 5% more than Hungary
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million 39.72
Ranked 117th.
100.73
Ranked 76th. 3 times more than Hungary

European Union > Council of the European Union votes 12
Ranked 10th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 17th.
Trademarks > Residents 4,293
Ranked 24th. 47% more than Slovakia
2,912
Ranked 26th.

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ 5.55 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 42nd. 14% more than Slovakia
4.87 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 43th.

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita 2.49 per 1 million people
Ranked 77th. 3% more than Slovakia
2.41 per 1 million people
Ranked 78th.

Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU 1.13 trillion
Ranked 5th. 519 times more than Slovakia
2.18 billion
Ranked 73th.

Management time dealing with officials > % of management time 5.27%
Ranked 12th. 73% more than Slovakia
3.04%
Ranked 27th.
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Votes 12
Ranked 9th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 16th.
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone [1] (202) 362-6730 [1] (202) 237-1054
Key ministers > Finance Janos Veres (MSZP) Ivan Miklos (SDKU)
Key ministers > Foreign affairs Ferenc Somogyi (independent) Eduard Kukan (SDKU)
Democracy and rights > Last election April 2010 March 2012
Parliament > Seats held by men per million people 35.41
Ranked 48th. 59% more than Slovakia
22.23
Ranked 70th.

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU 1567000000000 169950000000
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Votes 12
Ranked 8th. 71% more than Slovakia
7
Ranked 14th.
Democracy and rights > Next election April 2014 March 2016
Spending > Other expense > Current LCU 1.06 trillion
Ranked 3rd. 1117 times more than Slovakia
945.63 million
Ranked 67th.

Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Leader Gordon Bajnai Robert Fico
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Leader Viktor OrbÇ­n Iveta RadiŽovÇ­
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members 4
Ranked 146th. The same as Slovakia
4
Ranked 170th.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia The Hungarian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, regretting the decision of the Russian government and stating that "these decisions do not serve the stability of the Caucasus region and do not advance negotiations over a settlement of the very conflict which has produced severe humanitarian and material consequences". A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Slovakia "disapproves of these steps and confirms the main principles, based on the long-standing position of the Slovak Republic regarding Georgia and the solution of conflicts on its territory. These principles are: sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders and solution of the conflicts exclusively by peaceful means and talks in compliance with the international law". The statement also said that "the Slovak government , as one of few EU member states , can insist on the principle of the territorial integrity of Georgia, as it has done also in the case of Serbia and Kosovo".
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of State of Palestine 23 November 1988 18 November 1988
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 21
Ranked 152nd.
27
Ranked 120th. 29% more than Hungary

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; Wikipedia: List of national legal systems (Civil law); British Broadcasting Corporation 2014; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).; Wikipedia: List of countries by system of government (Alphabetical list of countries); All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; World Development Indicators database; Wikipedia: Censorship by country (Censorship by country) ("Press Freedom Index 2013" , Reporters Without Borders, 30 January 2013); United Nations Statistics Division; "2012 Freedom of the Press Data" , Freedom House, 1 May 2012; Wikipedia: List of active nationalist parties in Europe (National); Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2000-2001, New York: Freedom House, 2001; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 1995. Women in Parliaments 1945-1995: A World Statistical Survey. Geneva and IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. 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