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Prime Minister of Hungary
Coat of arms of Hungary (oak and olive branches).svg
Viktor Orban.2024 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Viktor Orbán

since 29 May 2010
Style Mr. Prime Minister (informal)
His Excellency (diplomatic)
Member of
Reports to National Assembly
Seat Carmelite Monastery (Budapest, Színház Street 5-7)
Nominator President
Appointer Elected by National Assembly
Term length Four years, no term limit
Inaugural holder Count Lajos Batthyány
Formation 17 March 1848
Deputy Deputy Prime Minister
Salary 4 823 000 Ft/US$ 13,460 monthly
Website The Prime Minister's Office https://www.miniszterelnok.hu/


The Prime Minister of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyarország miniszterelnöke) is the main leader of the government in Hungary. The Prime Minister and the group of top officials called the Cabinet work together. They are responsible for their decisions and actions to the Parliament. They are also accountable to their political party and, most importantly, to the people who vote in elections. The person holding this important job right now is Viktor Orbán. He is the leader of the Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance party. He has been Prime Minister since May 29, 2010.

The Hungarian Constitution explains how the Prime Minister is chosen. First, the president of Hungary suggests a person for the job. Then, the National Assembly formally votes to elect them. The President usually suggests the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the National Assembly. If no single party wins a majority, the President talks with leaders from all parties in the assembly. They then suggest the person who is most likely to get enough votes to lead the government. This person is then officially elected by a simple majority vote in the assembly.

What is the Prime Minister's Title?

The official title for Hungary's head of government in Hungarian is miniszterelnök. This word means "minister-president." However, in English-speaking countries, the leader of a government in a parliamentary system is usually called a "prime minister" or "premier." Because of this, most English sources translate the title as "prime minister."

History of the Prime Minister's Role

Barabas-batthyany
A painting of Count Lajos Batthyány from 1848. He was Hungary's very first Prime Minister.

The current Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, has served the longest in this position. He was Prime Minister from July 6, 1998, to May 27, 2002. He then returned to the role on May 29, 2010, and has been serving ever since. He passed Kálmán Tisza as the longest-serving Prime Minister on November 30, 2020. If you add up all his years in office, he has served for over 19 years as of 2025.

How the Position Was Created

The role of Prime Minister was created during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. At that time, people wanted Hungary to have its own government. They wanted it to be separate from the Austrian Empire. One of the main goals of the revolutionaries was to have a "responsible government" in Buda-Pest.

On March 17, 1848, Ferdinand V appointed Count Lajos Batthyány as Hungary's first Prime Minister. At that time, the government was called a "ministry," and different parts of the government were called "departments." After the revolution was defeated, the position of Prime Minister was empty for a while.


See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Primer ministro de Hungría para niños

  • Records of prime ministers of Hungary
  • List of prime ministers of Hungary by tenure
  • List of heads of state of Hungary
  • List of Hungarian monarchs
  • List of palatines of Hungary
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