# First Orbán Government

The First Orbán Government was the fourth democratically elected government in Hungary after the regime change. It existed between 1998 and 2002. Its creation was made possible by the FKgP: the party withdrew 82 candidates in the second round of the election, so FKgP voters voted for the local Fidesz candidate instead, thus reversing the election result. Due to the resignations in the Parliament afterwards, the votes of the way smaller but still large number of 48 smallholder representatives were essential for the formation of the government. The governmental relationship between the two parties was formed by the coalition agreement developed by the negotiating delegations, led by László Kövér and Béla Szabadi. The coalition government consisted of three parties: Fidesz, FKgP and MDF. The latter was introduced to the Parliament with the help of Fidesz. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took his oath of office on July 6, 1998, and his ministers took office on July 8, two days later. The coalition was dissolved in 2001, if not formally, but on its merits: the coalition agreement virtually expired. The FKgP could not even recall Imre Boros, even though the right to nominate belonged to the party. From the moment that József Torgyán, the chairman of the FKgP, was forced to resign as a minister because of his son's so called "cassette case", although he was able to retain his position within the party, but his position weakened considerably: his party faction expelled the party chairman from the group with votes from Fidesz supporters and in violation of house rules. He assured the government of the support of five members who had previously been expelled or separated from the smallholder faction, leaving a majority in the National Assembly for a time. At the same time, the government received external support from MIÉP.

## Party breakdown
### Beginning of term

Party breakdown of cabinet ministers in the beginning of term:
| Fidesz | 6 |
| FKgP | 4 |
| MDF | 1 |
| Independents | 7 |

### End of term

Party breakdown of cabinet ministers in the end of term:
| Fidesz | 7 |
| FKgP | 4 |
| MDF | 1 |
| Independents | 6 |

## Composition

| Office | Incumbent | Political party | In office |
| Prime Minister | Viktor Orbán | Fidesz | 6 July 1998 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of the Prime Minister's Office | István Stumpf | Independent | 8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | Sándor Pintér | Independent | 8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | János Martonyi | Independent | 8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Finance | Zsigmond Járai | Independent | 8 July 1998 - 31 December 2000 |
| Minister of Finance | Mihály Varga | Fidesz | 31 December 2000 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Economy | Attila Chikán | Independent | 8 July 1998 - 31 December 1999 |
| Minister of Economy | György Matolcsy | Independent | 31 December 1999 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development | József Torgyán | FKgP | 8 July 1998 - 15 February 2001 |
| Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development | Imre Boros | FKgP | 15 February 2001 - 25 March 2001 |
| Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development | András Vonza | FKgP | 25 March 2001 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Justice | Ibolya Dávid | MDF | 8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Health | Árpád Gógl | Fidesz | 8 July 1998 - 31 December 2000 |
| Minister of Health | István Mikola | Independent | 31 December 2000 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of National Cultural Heritage | József Hámori | Independent | 8 July 1998 - 31 December 1999 |
| Minister of National Cultural Heritage | Zoltán Rockenbauer | Fidesz | 31 December 1999 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Education | Zoltán Pokorni | Fidesz | 8 July 1998 - 15 July 2001 |
| Minister of Education | József Pálinkás | Fidesz | 15 July 2001 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Social Affairs | Péter Harrach | Fidesz | 8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Defence | János Szabó | FKgP | 8 July 1998 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Environment | Pál Pepó | FKgP | 8 July 1998 - 19 June 2000 |
| Minister of Environment | Ferenc Ligetvári | FKgP | 19 June 2000 - 30 November 2000 |
| Minister of Environment | Béla Turi-Kovács | FKgP | 30 November 2000 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister of Transportation, Communication and Water | Kálmán Katona | Independent | 8 July 1998 - 31 May 2000 |
| Minister of Transportation, Communication and Water | László Nógrádi | Fidesz | 31 May 2000 - 30 November 2000 |
| Minister of Transportation, Communication and Water | János Fónagy | Fidesz | 30 November 2000 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister for Youth and Sport | Tamás Deutsch | Fidesz | 1 January 1999 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister without portfolio for Secret Services | László Kövér | Fidesz | 8 July 1998 - 2 May 2000 |
| Minister without portfolio for Secret Services | Ervin Demeter | Independent | 2 May 2000 - 27 May 2002 |
| Minister without portfolio for the coordination of the PHARE programme | Imre Boros | FKgP | 4 October 2004 - 9 June 2006 |