President of Hungary

The president of Hungary, officially the president of the republic, is the head of state of Hungary. This important job helps represent the country and its people.

The president has some special powers, such as the ability to veto laws or send them to the Constitutional Court for review. But most of the daily work of running the country is done by the prime minister.

The president is often seen as a symbol of the nation. They do many public duties and represent Hungary at events, both at home and in other countries. Even though their job seems formal, the president helps make sure laws are fair and checks important decisions.

For those interested in learning more about the people who have held this position, you can explore the List of heads of state of Hungary. Understanding the role of the president helps us see how Hungary is led and how its government works.

Presidential election

The Constitution of Hungary says that the National Assembly (Országgyűlés) chooses the president of Hungary. The president serves for five years and can be chosen only two times.

To be president, a person must be a Hungarian citizen who is at least 35 years old. The election happens between 30 and 60 days before the current president’s term ends, or within 30 days if the office becomes empty.

Candidates need support from at least one-fifth of the National Assembly members. In the first vote, a candidate needs more than two-thirds of the votes to win. If no one gets that many, the top two candidates go to a second vote. The person with the most votes in the second round becomes president. If that does not work, a new election is held with new candidates.

Before starting the job, the president takes an oath promising to serve Hungary and its laws well.

Competencies and prerogatives

The President of Hungary is the head of state and represents the nation. This role includes being the Commander-in-Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces and joining meetings of the National Assembly. The President can suggest new laws or referendums and decide when elections will happen. They also help make important decisions during times of war or emergency.

The President can suggest names for important positions like the Prime Minister and judges. With approval from the government, the President appoints ministers, bank leaders, and other key officials. However, the President can choose not to make these appointments if they think it might cause problems for the country's democratic system. The President also has the power to forgive individuals, handle matters about territory, and deal with citizenship issues with the government's agreement.

Immunity and removal from office

The president of Hungary cannot be charged with crimes while they are in office. This protection ends when their time in office ends.

If the president breaks an important law on purpose, they can be removed from office. At least one-fifth of the National Assembly must suggest this. Then, two-thirds of the National Assembly must agree in a secret vote. The Constitutional Court decides if the president should be removed. If found responsible, the president is removed from office.

Succession

The president of Hungary’s term can end in a few ways. It ends when the term is up, if the president resigns, or if they are dismissed. If the president cannot do their job for more than 90 days, the National Assembly can decide they are unable to continue.

If the president is temporarily unable to work, the speaker of the National Assembly takes over until the president can return. The National Assembly decides this based on a suggestion from the president, the government, or a member of the assembly.

History

Role in the legislative process

Latest election

The most recent election for President of Hungary took place in 2022. Voters chose a new president to lead the country.