Századok – 2011

MŰHELY - Erőss Zsolt: A martonizmus felszámolása. A Nemzeti Egység Pártjának átszervezése 1936-ban I/161

196 ERŐSS ZSOLT The death of Gömbös on 6 October 1936 definitively deprived the Marton-group of its chief supporter, at a moment when the eventual process of how to curb their political role and influence had already been outlined. From late October 1936 Kálmán Darányi, in accordance partly with his own political inclinations, partly with the expectations of the moderate representatives who constituted the majority within the governing party, set about the reorganisation of the latter. The new rules of party organisation, which were accepted on 15 December 1936, not only completely reshaped the party leadership, but also induced profound transformations in the internal life of the Party of National Unity and in the activity of its provincial units. The leadership of the party was removed from the hands of right-wing radicals, and at least partly returned to the pre-1933 „constitutional framework" In contrast to contemporary assessments, however, the Marton-regime was far from completely liquidated. Proofs of its survival were the rather cautious changes in the personnel of party leadership, the decision taken by the latter not to touch upon the question concerning the presidency of the fiispúnok on the level of the nicgye, as well as the uncertainty looming over the the personnel of the some 3000 provincial units of the Party.