a period of political turbulence. After Hungary had been ruled by the communist Béla Kun for a short period, the Hungarian Parliament reintroduced the monarchy in 1920. But instead of returning power to Károly IV, who was then living in exile, however, the parliament offered the role of regent to Miklós Horthy, a former admiral and commander-inchief of the Imperial Navy and the person who orchestrated the dismissal of Béla Kun. Horthy was moderately interested in the offer, at least in public. During the negotiations that followed, the role was granted expanded powers. When Horthy finally accepted, it was a role with far more sweeping powers that he now assumed. The regent would become the commander of its armed forces and at his discretion he could appoint and dismiss prime ministers and appoint and dissolve the parliament. By today's standards, the arrangement would hardly be considered democratic. Socialist and communist parties were banned and the Social Democratic Party and affiliated trade unions were placed under
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