Kálmán Tisza

Kálmán ( Koloman ) Tisza Count of Borosjenő et Szeged, Hungarian Szegedi és borosjenői Gróf Kálmán Tisza ( born December 16, 1830 in Geszt, Békés County, † March 23, 1902 in Budapest), was a long-time Prime Minister of Hungary from 1875 to 1890 a leading politician of Austria-Hungary.

Life

The Tisza family were originally Calvinists from the lower nobility in Transylvania. After the defeat of Solferino Tisza was included in the new Hungarian government in 1861 and 1866 took part in the Austro-Hungarian Compromise negotiations. As leader of the party decision which would explain the validity of the 1848 law by a simple decision, he could not prevail over the address party of Ferenc Deák. In addition, Tisza, who had received an extensive heritage was until 1875 Vice- Director of the Hungarian Nordostbahn.

Prime minister

In 1875 he founded the Liberal (Freedom ) party, emerged from the political group to Deák, as a reservoir for the lower nobility and business people and took over the management of the government. He was the Prime Minister by extensive reforms to modernize the country in the field of economic, legal, social and political happenings. With Finance Minister Sándor Wekerle he could avert a national bankruptcy. Through a tax reform, which included the large land ownership, government revenues were multiplied. His government also increased the independence from the Austrian part of the empire Cisleithania, even the Hungarian influence on the common foreign policy of the monarchy took too strong. The remarkable economic achievements during Tisza reign justified the prestige of the country and modified the self-understanding of Hungarian politics.

Despite the initial reforms Tisza ruled soon after the principle Quieta non movere (which rests, one should not stir ). The long reign of Tisza gave the impression of great stability, especially compared to the Austrian part of the Dual Monarchy, which became detached eleven governments at this time. However, the social development could not keep pace with the relatively constant economic development of the country step. Unrest and growing anti-Semitism were the result. The importance of political anti-Semitism in Transleithania could be temporarily suppressed by Tisza.

Under the government policy of the Tisza Magyarization Hungary began the non-Magyar population should accept by more or less gentle pressure the Magyar language and nationality. In several stages, initially hesitant, each national statement was made about the Slovaks impossible coming under Tisza. The situation was hardened with the denial of the existence of the Slovak nation by Tisza. A reputable contemporary source cites, Tisza had " free hand " possessed "for the ruthless measures to Magyarization Hungary, which to the most flagrant injustices, as against the Transylvanian Saxons, led ". Between 1880 and 1910 the percentage of professing as citizens Magyars of Hungary (without Croatia ) increased from 45 to over 54 percent.

His son István Tisza took over the father's political legacy, his Liberal Party and was also for many years the Hungarian Prime Minister.