Imre Nagy first became Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic (Prime Minister of Hungary) on 4 July 1953 upon the resignation of Mátyás Rákosi, forming a government more moderate than that of his predecessor which attempted to reform the system.^[1] However, Rákosi remained First Secretary of the ruling Hungarian Working People's Party, and he was ultimately able to use his influence force Nagy out of office in April 1955.

After the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution on 23 October 1956, Nagy was reinstated as prime minister the next day as a result of intense popular demand. As the Revolution progressed his government made moves towards a multi-party system, admitting non-Communist politicians to power and reforming the ruling Hungarian Working People's Party into the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party.^[2] On 3 November Nagy formed a third government with a Communist minority including all the members of the post-war coalition parties: the Independent Smallholders' Party, the Social Democratic Party, and Petőfi Party.^[3]

However, the very next day the Soviet Union launched a massive military invasion of Hungary, deposing Nagy and installing a new Communist government under János Kádár. Nagy and his cabinet were granted asylum in the Yugoslav Embassy in Budapest, where they refused to resign and recognize the new regime. Kádár would not arrive in Budapest until 7 November and his government would not be confirmed until 12 November, and a standoff ensued.^[4] Nagy and his group were finally convinced to leave the Embassy on 22 November under a promise of safe conduct from Kádár, but they were promptly arrested upon leaving the building. Nagy would be executed after a show trial on the order of Kádár in June 1958, and would not be rehabilitated until the end of Communism in Hungary in 1989.

First government (1953–1955)

First Cabinet of Imre Nagy
Cabinet of Hungary
1953–1955
Date formed	4 July 1953 (1953-07-04)
Date dissolved	18 April 1955 (1955-04-18)
People and organisations
Chairman of the Presidential Council	István Dobi
First Secretary of the Hungarian Working People's Party	Mátyás Rákosi
Chairman of the Council of Ministers	Imre Nagy
Deputy Chairmen of the Council of Ministers	Ernő Gerő András Hegedüs Antal Apró (–1953) István Hidas (1954–)
No. of ministers	29
Total no. of members	37
Member party	Hungarian Working People's Party (as part of Patriotic People's Front)
Status in legislature	Total control 298 / 298 (100%)
Opposition party	None (one-party state)
History
Election(s)	1953
Predecessor	Rákosi
Successor	Hegedüs

Second government (24 October–3 November 1956)

Second Cabinet of Imre Nagy
Cabinet of Hungary
1956
Date formed	24 October 1956 (1956-10-24)
Date dissolved	3 November 1956 (1956-11-03)
People and organisations
Chairman of the Presidential Council	István Dobi
First Secretary of the MDP/MSZMP	Ernő Gerő (–25 Oct.) János Kádár (25 Oct.–)
Chairman of the Council of Ministers	Imre Nagy
Deputy Chairmen of the Council of Ministers	Antal Apró Ferenc Erdei József Bognár (27 Oct.–) András Hegedüs (–27 Oct.) István Hidas (–27 Oct.) György Marosán (–27 Oct.) József Mekis (–27 Oct.)
Minister of State	Zoltán Tildy Géza Losonczy János Kádár
No. of ministers	33
Total no. of members	45
Member party	Hungarian Working People's Party from 31 October:   Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party from 27 October:   Independent Smallholders' Party
Opposition party	(extraparliamentary) from 31 October:   Social Democratic Party   Petőfi Party numerous reconstituted parties
History
Incoming formation	Outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution
Outgoing formation	Government reshuffle
Predecessor	Hegedüs
Successor	I. Nagy III

Third government (3–4/12 November 1956)

Third Cabinet of Imre Nagy
Cabinet of Hungary
1956
Date formed	3 November 1956 (1956-11-03)
Date dissolved	4 November 1956 (1956-11-04) (de facto) 12 November 1956 (1956-11-12) (de jure) at refuge until 22 November 1956
People and organisations
Chairman of the Presidential Council	István Dobi
Chairman of the Council of Ministers	Imre Nagy
No. of ministers	12
Member party	Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party   Independent Smallholders' Party   Social Democratic Party   Petőfi Party
Opposition party	Numerous reconstituted parties
History
Incoming formation	Government reshuffle
Outgoing formation	Soviet invasion
Predecessor	I. Nagy II
Successor	Kádár I

References