President of Hungary

The president of Hungary, officially the president of the republic, is the head of state of Hungary. This important role helps represent the country and its people. While the president has some special powers, such as the ability to veto laws or send them to the Constitutional Court for review, most of the day-to-day governing is done by the prime minister.

The president is often thought of as a ceremonial figure, much like a symbol of the nation. This means they perform many public duties and represent Hungary at official events, both inside the country and abroad. Even though their job seems formal, the president plays a key part in making sure laws are fair and in checking 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 for 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 unity of the nation. This role includes being the Commander-in-Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces and participating in 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 believe it would 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 is protected from being charged with crimes while in office. This protection ends when their term finishes.

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 ends in several 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 when this happens based on a suggestion from the president, the government, or a member of the assembly.

History

Role in the legislative process

Latest election