President of Hungary facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Hungary
Magyarország köztársasági elnöke
Coat of arms of the president
Standard of the president
Incumbent Ágnes Forsthoffer Acting  since 20 July 2026
Residence	Sándor Palace
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; 107 years ago (1919-01-11) (1st) 1 February 1946 (2nd) 23 October 1989 (current)
First holder	Mihály Károlyi (First Republic, 1919) Zoltán Tildy (Second Republic, 1946) Árpád Göncz (Third Republic, 1990)
Abolished	29 February 1920 (1st) 20 August 1949 (2nd)
Deputy	Speaker of the National Assembly
Salary	3,909,710 Ft monthly

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The President of Hungary is the head of state for the country of Hungary. This important role is mostly about representing the nation and performing official duties. The president also has the power to stop new laws or ask the Constitutional Court to check if a law is fair. However, most of the day-to-day running of the government, like choosing ministers, is handled by the Prime Minister.

Choosing the President

The Hungarian Constitution explains how the president is chosen. The National Assembly, which is Hungary's parliament, elects the president. A president serves for five years and can only be elected for two terms in total.

Who Can Be President?

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

How the Election Works

The Speaker of the National Assembly calls for the presidential election. This election happens between 30 and 60 days before the current president's term ends. If the president's office becomes empty for any reason, the election must happen 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 voting is done secretly and can take up to two days.

• In the first round, if a candidate gets more than two-thirds of all the votes, they win.
• If no one wins in the first round, a second round is held. This round is between the two candidates who got the most votes. The person with the most votes in the second round becomes president.
• If the second round doesn't result in a winner, a new election process must begin.

Taking the Oath

Once elected, the new president must take an oath in front of the National Assembly. This oath is a promise to be loyal to Hungary and its laws, and to work for the good of the Hungarian nation.

What the President Does

The president of Hungary represents the entire nation and makes sure that government institutions work democratically.

• The president is the Commander-in-Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces, which means they are the highest leader of the country's military.
• They represent Hungary on the world stage.
• They can attend meetings of the National Assembly and speak there.
• They can suggest new laws or ask for a national vote (a referendum) on important issues.
• The president sets the dates for elections.
• They are involved in decisions about special situations, like a state of war or 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.

The president also suggests important leaders, such as the Prime Minister, the head of the highest court, and the chief public prosecutor. With the agreement of the government, the president appoints ministers, the head of the National Bank, university professors, and generals. They also give out awards and titles. However, the president can refuse to make these appointments if there's a good reason, like if the person doesn't meet the requirements or if it would harm how the government works.

With the government's agreement, the president can also grant pardons to individuals and make decisions about citizenship.

Protection and Removal from Office

The president of Hungary is considered "inviolable." This means that no criminal charges can be brought against them while they are in office. Any such legal action can only happen after their term ends.

However, a president can be removed from office. This happens if they intentionally break the country's basic law or another law while doing their job, or if they commit a serious offense.

• At least one-fifth of the National Assembly members must propose the removal.
• Then, two-thirds of the National Assembly members must vote secretly to start an official 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 of office can end in several ways:

• When their five-year term is completed.
• If the president passes away while in office.
• If they become unable to perform their duties for more than 90 days.
• If they no longer meet the requirements to be president.
• If they resign from their position.
• 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 by a two-thirds majority to confirm this incapacity.

What Happens During a Temporary Absence?

If the president is temporarily unable to perform their duties, the Speaker of the National Assembly takes over. The Speaker cannot pass these duties to anyone else. During this time, one of the deputy speakers takes over the Speaker's usual duties in the National Assembly. The National Assembly decides when the president's temporary absence begins and ends.

Recent Changes and Elections

In July 2026, the National Assembly made an important change to the country's basic law. This change ended the term of the previous President, Tamás Sulyok, on July 20, 2026. Following this, Ágnes Forsthoffer became the acting president.

In the 2026 Hungarian presidential election, András Baka was elected as the new president. He received a large majority of the votes in the National Assembly.

See also

• List of heads of state of Hungary
• Fundamental Law of Hungary