Tamás Sulyok elected as President by the government majority
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In their latest session, the majority of the parliament elected Tamás Sulyok, the president of the Constitutional Court, as the President of Hungary.
Dr. Sulyok’s Biography:
Graduated from the Faculty of Law of József Attila University in Szeged in 1980
1980-1982: Judicial clerk at the Csongrád County Court
1982: Passed the legal bar exam
1982-1991: Legal advisor
1991-1996: Lawyer at Sulyok-Japport Law Firm
1997-2005: Lawyer at Sulyok and Ádám Law Firm
1998-2002: Legal representative of the Szeged local government
2000-2014: Honorary Consul of Austria
2005-present: Invited lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the University of Szeged
2013: PhD degree in “The Constitutional Position of the Legal Profession”
2014-present: Constitutional Court Judge
2022-present: President of the Constitutional Court
Dr. Sulyok’s Dissenting Opinions:
The campaign finance law, Dr. Sulyok argued that the law disproportionately restricts the right of assembly.
The public procurement law, Dr. Sulyok argued that the law does not ensure the transparency and fairness of public procurement.
The law on the management of national assets, Dr. Sulyok argued that the law does not ensure the efficient and transparent management of national assets.
The law on parliamentary immunity, Dr. Sulyok argued that the law does not ensure the proportional application of parliamentary immunity.
The law on secret service tools used to prevent terrorist acts and investigations, Dr. Sulyok argued that the law disproportionately restricts the right to privacy.
It is important to note that a dissenting opinion does not mean that the constitutional judge disagreed with the decision of the Constitutional Court. A dissenting opinion merely indicates that Tamás Sulyok would have found a different legal argument more convincing.
The Presidential Election:
To win the presidential election, a candidate must obtain two-thirds of the votes.
If no candidate reaches the two-thirds majority in the first round, a second round will be held between the two candidates with the most votes.
The President is elected by the Parliament in a secret ballot.
The Parliament can decide by a two-thirds majority not to hold a presidential election. In this case, the duties of the President are performed by the Speaker of the Parliament.
The last presidential election was held on March 10, 2022. Katalin Novák, who has now resigned, won the election with 66.87% of the votes.
Hungary has had six presidents since 1989:
Árpád Göncz (1990-2000)
Ferenc Mádl (2000-2005)
László Sólyom (2005-2010)
Pál Schmitt (August 6, 2010 – April 2, 2012)
János Áder (2012-2022)
Katalin Novák (March 10, 2022 – February 2024)
The Role of the Hungarian President:
Represents the Hungarian state internationally. Appoints and receives ambassadors and envoys. Determines the date of the general elections for members of the Parliament, local governments, and mayors.
Entrusts the Prime Minister with forming the government if the Parliament supports the candidate with a two-thirds majority. Can dissolve the Parliament if it cannot elect the Prime Minister or if the Parliament rejects the budget twice. Nominates candidates for the Constitutional Court to the Parliament.
Has the right of veto over laws passed by the Parliament. Has the right to pardon persons convicted by the court. Commander-in-Chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
It is important to note that the Hungarian President does not have executive power. The executive power is in the hands of the Prime Minister and the government.
The role of the President is primarily representative and symbolic. The President embodies the unity of the nation and guards the democratic functioning of the state organization.
Please note that this is a summary of the information and may not be complete or exhaustive.