List of prime ministers of Hungary facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Prime Minister of Hungary is like the head of a school, but for the whole country! They lead the government and make important decisions for everyone living in Hungary.

The first person to be called Prime Minister in the modern way was Lajos Batthyány in 1848. This was during a big event called the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, when Hungary was fighting for more freedom. Today, Viktor Orbán has been Prime Minister for a very long time, longer than anyone else in modern Hungarian history!

Early Prime Ministers (1848-1849)
Prime Ministers in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (1867–1918)
Hungary After World War I (1918–1920)
The Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)
Hungary After World War II (1946–1989)
Hungary Today: The Third Republic (from 1989)
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See also

Early Prime Ministers (1848-1849)

After the 1848 revolution, Hungary had its first modern prime ministers. These leaders worked to guide the country through big changes.

Lajos Batthyány was the very first Prime Minister. He took office in March 1848.
Lajos Kossuth became a key leader after Batthyány. He was a very important figure in the fight for Hungary's independence.
Bertalan Szemere also served as Prime Minister during this time.

After the revolution, Hungary became part of the Austrian Empire again. This lasted until 1867. Then, Hungary joined with Austria to form the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

Prime Ministers in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (1867–1918)

During this period, Hungary was a strong part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many prime ministers led the country through these years. They worked on laws and helped Hungary grow.

Gyula Andrássy was the first Prime Minister when the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was formed. He was in charge for several years.
Kálmán Tisza served for a very long time, from 1875 to 1890. He was a major political leader in Hungary.
Sándor Wekerle was unique because he served as Prime Minister three different times! He led the country through various challenges.
István Tisza also served two terms as Prime Minister. He was a powerful figure in Hungarian politics before World War I.

This era ended with the start of World War I and the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

Hungary After World War I (1918–1920)

After World War I, Hungary went through a very difficult and changing time. The country became a republic, and then a Soviet Republic for a short period.

Mihály Károlyi became Prime Minister right after the monarchy ended in 1918. He tried to lead Hungary into a new era.
Dénes Berinkey took over after Károlyi.
Sándor Garbai was the leader during the time Hungary was a Soviet Republic in 1919. This was a very short but intense period.
There were also "counter-revolutionary" governments during this time. These governments were against the Soviet Republic.
István Friedrich and Károly Huszár were among the leaders who helped guide Hungary after the Soviet Republic ended.

The Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)

After the chaos of the immediate post-war years, Hungary became a kingdom again. However, it did not have a king. Instead, a regent ruled the country. Many prime ministers served during this time, leading up to and during World War II.

Pál Teleki served two terms as Prime Minister. He was a geographer and a politician.
István Bethlen was Prime Minister for a very long time, from 1921 to 1931. He helped stabilize Hungary after the war.
Gyula Gömbös was another important Prime Minister in the 1930s.
As World War II approached, leaders like László Bárdossy and Miklós Kállay held the position.
Towards the end of World War II, Ferenc Szálasi led a very short-lived government.
During the final stages of the war, Béla Miklós led a provisional government.

Hungary After World War II (1946–1989)

After World War II, Hungary changed its government several times. It became a republic, and then a "People's Republic" under Communist rule. During this time, the leader was called the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Zoltán Tildy and Ferenc Nagy were Prime Ministers right after the war. They tried to rebuild the country.
István Dobi was Prime Minister as Hungary moved towards Communist rule.
Mátyás Rákosi was a very powerful leader during the early Communist period.
Imre Nagy served two terms as Prime Minister. He was a key figure during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, a major uprising against Soviet control.
After the 1956 revolution, János Kádár became a very influential leader. He was Prime Minister twice and led Hungary for many years.
Later leaders included Ferenc Münnich, Gyula Kállai, Jenő Fock, György Lázár, and Károly Grósz.
Miklós Németh was the last Prime Minister of the Hungarian People's Republic. He helped guide Hungary towards democracy.

Hungary Today: The Third Republic (from 1989)

Since 1989, Hungary has been a democratic republic. The Prime Minister is chosen by the people through elections.

József Antall was the first Prime Minister of the new democratic Hungary. He led the country after the end of Communist rule.
Péter Boross took over after Antall.
Gyula Horn became Prime Minister in 1994.
Viktor Orbán served his first term as Prime Minister from 1998 to 2002.
Péter Medgyessy and Ferenc Gyurcsány led the government in the early 2000s.
Gordon Bajnai was Prime Minister for a short period.
Viktor Orbán returned as Prime Minister in 2010 and has been in office ever since. He has led the country through many important changes.

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Lajos Batthyány was the first Prime Minister of Hungary.
Ádám Récsey was appointed illegally for a very short time.
Lajos Kossuth was a key leader in the 1848 Revolution.
Bertalan Szemere served as Prime Minister in 1849.
Gyula Andrássy was the first Prime Minister of Hungary in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
Menyhért Lónyay served as Prime Minister in the early 1870s.
József Szlávy was Prime Minister from 1872 to 1874.
István Bittó served as Prime Minister in 1874-1875.
Béla Wenckheim was Prime Minister for a short period in 1875.
Kálmán Tisza was one of Hungary's longest-serving Prime Ministers.
Gyula Szapáry served as Prime Minister in the early 1890s.
Sándor Wekerle served three terms as Prime Minister.
Dezső Bánffy was Prime Minister from 1895 to 1899.
Kálmán Széll served as Prime Minister from 1899 to 1903.
Károly Khuen-Héderváry served two terms as Prime Minister.
István Tisza also served two terms as Prime Minister.
Géza Fejérváry was an independent Prime Minister.
Sándor Wekerle in his second term.
László Lukács was Prime Minister from 1912 to 1913.
István Tisza in his second term.
Móric Esterházy served as Prime Minister in 1917.
János Hadik had a very short term as Prime Minister.
Mihály Károlyi was the first Prime Minister of the First Hungarian Republic.
Dénes Berinkey served as Prime Minister in 1919.
Sándor Garbai was the leader during the Hungarian Soviet Republic.
Gyula Peidl was Prime Minister for a very short time in 1919.
Gyula Károlyi led a counter-revolutionary government.
Dezső Pattantyús-Ábrahám also led a counter-revolutionary government.
István Friedrich served as an interim Prime Minister.
Károly Huszár was an interim head of state.
Sándor Simonyi-Semadam was Prime Minister in 1920.
Pál Teleki served two terms as Prime Minister.
István Bethlen was a long-serving Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Hungary.
Gyula Gömbös was Prime Minister from 1932 to 1936.
Kálmán Darányi was Prime Minister from 1936 to 1938.
Béla Imrédy served as Prime Minister before World War II.
Ferenc Keresztes-Fischer served as acting Prime Minister twice.
László Bárdossy was Prime Minister during World War II.
Miklós Kállay was Prime Minister during World War II.
Döme Sztójay was Prime Minister during the German occupation.
Géza Lakatos was Prime Minister for a short period in 1944.
Ferenc Szálasi led the Arrow Cross Party government.
Béla Miklós led a provisional government after World War II.
Zoltán Tildy was Prime Minister after World War II.
Mátyás Rákosi was a powerful Communist leader.
Ferenc Nagy was Prime Minister after World War II.
Lajos Dinnyés served as Prime Minister from 1947 to 1948.
István Dobi was Prime Minister as Hungary became a People's Republic.
Imre Nagy was a key figure in the 1956 Revolution.
András Hegedüs was Prime Minister before the 1956 Revolution.
János Kádár led Hungary for many years during the Communist era.
Ferenc Münnich was Prime Minister from 1958 to 1961.
Gyula Kállai was Prime Minister from 1965 to 1967.
Jenő Fock was Prime Minister from 1967 to 1975.
György Lázár was Prime Minister from 1975 to 1987.
Károly Grósz was Prime Minister in the late 1980s.
Miklós Németh was the last Communist-era Prime Minister.
József Antall was the first Prime Minister of democratic Hungary.
Péter Boross served as Prime Minister after Antall.
Gyula Horn was Prime Minister from 1994 to 1998.
Viktor Orbán in his first term.
Péter Medgyessy was Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004.
Ferenc Gyurcsány was Prime Minister from 2004 to 2009.
Gordon Bajnai was Prime Minister from 2009 to 2010.
Viktor Orbán in his current term.