President of Hungary facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Hungary
Standard of the president
Coat of arms of the president
Incumbent Tamás Sulyok since 5 March 2024
Residence	Sándor Palace Budapest, Hungary
Appointer	National Assembly
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Hungary (2012)
Precursor	Regent of Hungary (1st) Presidential Council of Hungary (2nd)
Formation	11 January 1919; 106 years ago (1919-01-11) (1st) 1 February 1946 (2nd) 23 October 1989 (current)
First holder	Mihály Károlyi (1919) Zoltán Tildy (1946) Mátyás Szűrös (1989)
Abolished	29 February 1920 (1st) 20 August 1949 (2nd)
Deputy	Speaker of the National Assembly
Salary	3,909,710 Ft monthly

The President of Hungary is the head of state for the country of Hungary. This important role is mostly ceremonial, like a national symbol. However, the president can also stop new laws from passing or send them to a special court for review. Most of the day-to-day running of the government is handled by the Prime Minister.

Tamás Sulyok, a lawyer and former head of the Constitutional Court, became president on March 5, 2024. He was elected by the Hungarian Parliament. He took over after the previous president, Katalin Novák, resigned in February 2024.

How Hungary's President Is Chosen

The Hungarian Constitution explains how the president is elected. The National Assembly, which is Hungary's parliament, chooses the president. They serve for five years and can be re-elected only once.

Who Can Be President?

To become president, a person must be a Hungarian citizen and at least 35 years old.

Staying Independent

The president must be fair and not take sides. While in office, they cannot hold other public, political, or business jobs. They also cannot earn money from other professional activities, except for things like writing books or art.

The Election Process

The election for president happens between 30 and 60 days before the current president's term ends. If the president leaves office early, a new election must be held within 30 days.

To become a candidate, a person needs to be suggested in writing by at least one-fifth of the members of the National Assembly. Each member can only suggest one candidate.

The election is a secret vote. If a candidate gets more than two-thirds of all votes in the first round, they win. If not, a second round is held with the top two candidates. The person with the most votes in the second round becomes president. If the second round doesn't work, a new election starts from the beginning.

Taking the Oath

After being elected, the new president takes an oath in front of the National Assembly. This is a promise to be loyal to Hungary and its laws.

The oath says:

I [name of the person], swear to be faithful to Hungary and its Basic Law, to respect and enforce its legislation by others; I shall exercise my function as the president of the Republic for the good of the Hungarian nation. [And, according to the conviction of the one who takes the oath] May God help me so!

What the President Does

The president is the "Head of State" and represents the whole country. They make sure that government institutions work democratically.

Important Duties

• The president is the Commander-in-Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces, meaning they are in charge of the military.
• They represent Hungary to other countries.
• They can attend meetings of the National Assembly and speak there.
• They can suggest new laws or ask for a national vote (referendum) on important issues.
• The president sets the dates for elections.
• They are involved in decisions during special times, like a state of emergency.
• They call the National Assembly together after elections and can even dissolve it (end its session).
• They can ask the Constitutional Court to check if a law follows the Constitution.

Appointing Key People

The president suggests names for important positions, like the Prime Minister, judges, and the head of the National Bank. With the government's agreement, they officially appoint ministers, university professors, generals, and ambassadors. They also give out national awards and titles. The president can refuse to make an appointment if they believe it would harm how the government works.

Other Powers

With the government's agreement, the president can also:

• Grant special forgiveness to individuals.
• Make decisions about how the country's territory is organized.
• Handle cases about who becomes a Hungarian citizen or loses their citizenship.

President's Protection and Removal

The president is considered "inviolable," which means they cannot be charged with crimes while in office. Any criminal cases against them can only happen after their term ends.

How a President Can Be Removed

A president can be removed from office if they intentionally break the Constitution or another law while doing their job, or if they commit a serious crime.

To start this process, at least one-fifth of the National Assembly members must suggest it. Then, two-thirds of the National Assembly members must vote in a secret ballot to begin an investigation. The Constitutional Court then decides if the president should be removed. If the court finds the president responsible, they are removed from office.

When a President's Term Ends

A president's term can end in several ways:

• When their five-year term is finished.
• If the president passes away while in office.
• If they become unable to do their job for more than 90 days.
• If they no longer meet the requirements to be president.
• If they take on another job that is not allowed for the president.
• If they resign.
• If they are removed from office.

If the president is unable to do their job for more than 90 days, the National Assembly must vote to confirm this.

Temporary Absence

If the president is temporarily unable to do their job, the Speaker of the National Assembly takes over. The Speaker cannot pass these duties to anyone else. The Speaker's own duties in the National Assembly are then handled by a deputy speaker until the president returns. The National Assembly decides when the president is temporarily unable to serve.

History of the President's Role

The president's role in the law-making process has changed over time. The table below shows how often past presidents used their power to stop laws or send them to the Constitutional Court for review.

Latest Election

The most recent presidential election in Hungary took place in February 2024.

See also

• List of heads of state of Hungary