Венгрия мемлекет басшысы

Head of state of Hungary

The president of Hungary, officially the president of the republic (Magyarország köztársasági elnöke, államelnök, or államfő), is the head of state of Hungary. The office has a largely ceremonial (figurehead) role, but may also veto legislation or send legislation to the Constitutional Court for review. Most other executive powers, such as selecting government ministers and leading legislative initiatives, are vested in the office of the prime minister instead. Former Head of the Constitutional Court, lawyer Tamás Sulyok, was elected as president on 26 February 2024, on the first day of the 2024 Spring Session in Parliament, succeeding Katalin Novák, who resigned on 10 February 2024.

The Constitution of Hungary provides that the National Assembly (Országgyűlés) elects the president of Hungary for a term of five years. Presidents have a term limit of two terms of office. The Constitution states that candidatures must be "proposed in writing by at least one fifth of the members of the National Assembly". They shall be submitted to the president of the National Assembly before the vote. A member of the National Assembly may nominate only one candidate. If no candidate obtains the required majority, the second round is organized between the two candidates who obtained the most votes in the first round. The candidate obtaining the majority of the votes cast in the second round shall be elected president. If the second round is unsuccessful, a new election must be held after new candidatures are submitted.

According to the Basic Law, "the Head of State of Hungary is the President of the Republic who expresses the unity of the nation and oversees the democratic functioning of State institutions". Commander in Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces, "represents Hungary", "may participate in the sittings of the National Assembly and take the floor", "initiate laws" or a national referendum. It determines the date of elections, participates in "decisions concerning particular states of law" (state of war, emergency ), convokes the National Assembly after the elections, can dissolve it, check the conformity of a law by the Constitutional Court. The head of state "proposes the names of the Prime Minister, the President of the Curia, the Principal Public Prosecutor and the Commissioner of Fundamental Rights", the sole nominator of judges and the President of the Budget Council. With the "countersignature of a member of the government", the head of state appoints the ministers, the governor of the National Bank of Hungary, the heads of independent regulatory entities, university professors, generals, mandate ambassadors and university rectors, "awards decorations, rewards and titles". However, the president can refuse to make these appointments "if the statutory conditions are not fulfilled or if it concludes for a well founded reason that there would be a serious disturbance to the democratic functioning of the State institutions". However, Article 13 (2) of the Constitution provides for the removal of the president. This can only take place if the president "intentionally violates the Basic Law or another law in the performance of duties, or if they commit an offense voluntarily". In such a case, the motion for removal should be proposed by at least 1/5 of the members of the National Assembly. Subsequently, in proceedings before the Constitutional Court, it is determined whether the president should be relieved of their duties. If the court establishes the responsibility of the president, the president shall be removed from office.

+ Hungarian presidential election, 2024 Candidate Nominating Party Votes % In favor of Tamás Sulyok Independent 134 96.40% Against Sulyok 5 3.60% Total 139 100% Valid votes 139 95.20% Blank and invalid votes 7 4.80% Total 146 100% Abstention 52 26.27% Registered voters/turnout 198 73.73