Number of Hungarian counties might be cut from 19 to 12

A wide-ranging proposal to streamline regional administration may result in the number of counties in Hungary being chopped from 19 to 12, and other major changes to the country's current system of sub-national government. According to hirtv.hu, local Government Minister Mónika Lamperth has proposed the slashing of seven counties to help make Hungary's middle-level public administration more efficient, as well as EU-compliant.

The future of Hungary's county system has long been debated, not only because the European Union does not recognize such jurisdictions, but also because they cost an estimated Ft 100 billion (over €400 million) a year to Hungary's taxpayers to operate. Hungarian public administration currently has five levels (the local governments of villages and towns, small regions, counties, regions and the state), making it the second most complex in Europe.

If the proposal is passed, 12 large counties would be formed, each having greater authority in setting policy for the country's regions. Meanwhile, the special administrative rights of 23 urban areas would be abolished.

Under the plan, the number of "regional capitals" ("régiószékhelyek") - large towns having special powers and resources relating to regional development - would grow from seven to 12. Besides the current seven regional centers, Nyíregyháza, Kecskemét, Szolnok, Szombathely and Kaposvár would become country capitals. Budapest - similarly to Vienna - would have a special status, and Pest County would form a large county in itself.

The plan does not mention which counties would be merged, but it is believed that geography points to the integration of Nógrád-Heves-Borsod, Vas-Zala, Veszprém-Fejér, Baranya-Tolna and Győr-Komárom with neighboring jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, the changes would change the way new settlements are founded. Under the proposed rules, a new village would require at least 1,000 inhabitants, as opposed to the current 300, while a town would be defined as a settlement that provides and organizes the public services in its jurisdiction.

The country's political parties have proposed different solutions. The Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), the junior member of the current governing coalition, is in favor of abolishing the county system outright, while most members of the opposition are against such a change.

The Parliament is expected to discuss the proposal in April, and two-thirds of the MPs' support is needed for it to pass. Lamperth earlier proposed the forming of elected regional governments, but the opposition rejected it. If the opposition rejects the idea of large counties as well, Lamperth would likely propose the voluntary merging of counties or creating "delegated" regions. In this case, county bodies would delegate representatives to regional governments, and their tasks and authority would be basically the same as those of elected regions.

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