„Parallel (?) Biographies”: 1960–1970 and 2014–2024

Abstract

The 1959 Civil Code (rPtk.) and the 2013 Ptk. shows many similarities in preparatory work and codification. The duration of the codification was seven years in the case of rPtk. and fifteen years in the case of Ptk. In the case of both codes, the government created a separate codification committee, in addition to which extensive social and professional consultation played an important role. Neither the rPtk. nor the Ptk. its codification period did not fall into a politically favorable period. In addition, rPtk. and the Ptk. its codification was also integrated into the international legislative processes and they followed several foreign “models”. The legislator provided – in the case of rPtk. – 9 months and – in the case of Ptk. – 13 months for entry into force, because both codes resulted significant changes in the legal system. In the first ten years after the entry into force of the two codes, they underwent numerous amendments, which already show several differences. If we compare the temporal distribution of the amendments, it can be concluded that the Ptk. – in the first four years after its entry into force – was amended more times than the rPtk. in total in the first ten years. Despite all this, the Ptk. continues to self-identify those private law values that help to “keep in check the arrogance and recklessness of a people puffed up in prosperity and arrogant”, as happened in the age of Pericles. Quoting the warning of Lajos Vékás: “More respect for the Ptk.!”