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Hungary’s parliament will vote on a new president next Tuesday, but no candidate has yet been nominated for the post.
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A change of guard in key state positions was one of Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s main promises after his Tisza party won a landslide victory in April’s general election, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power.
In July, Magyar’s government used a constitutional amendment to remove the previous president, Tamás Sulyok, whom the prime minister described as an Orbán “puppet”.
Shortly afterwards, Magyar offered the role to chess legend and former world champion Judit Polgár, who turned down the nomination, citing Hungary’s deep political divisions.
Magyar’s handling of the nomination drew criticism from opposition MPs and NGOs, who argued that, contrary to his earlier pledge, there had been no genuine public consultation on the process.
Responding on Facebook, Magyar said Tisza had only asked for recommendations, not launched a “societal consultation”, and that the final choice rested with his party’s parliamentary group and the National Assembly.
“Let’s decide together,” Magyar said in a social media video posted in late July. “We don’t want to find the most suitable candidate in cigar rooms. Let the parties, public figures, civil society and private individuals put forward proposals.”
The presidency is a largely ceremonial post, though the office-holder can sign laws or refer them to the Constitutional Court, and has the power to pardon convicted criminals. The speaker of parliament, Ágnes Forsthoffer, is currently holding the position on a temporary basis.
Several NGOs and political parties have put forward candidates. Magyar himself has met a number of high-profile figures and potential nominees, including law professor and former Curia president András Baka, historian Ignác Romsics, and lawyer Botond Fülöp, who uncovered a secret presidential pardon in the paedophilia case that led to the resignation of former president Katalin Novák in 2024.
According to Magyar, the next president should embody national unity and serve the country without any party-political past or affiliation.
Orbán’s opposition Fidesz party has said it will not take part in the presidential vote, arguing that Sulyok’s removal was illegitimate.