President of the Republic of Hungary


President of the Republic of Hungary


Standard of the President


Acting President János Áder since May 10, 2012

Official seat	Budapest
Term of office	5 years (re-election possible once)
Creation of office	October 18, 1989
Last choice	March 13, 2017

website	www.keh.hu

The President of the Republic ( Hungarian : Köztársasági elnök ) is the head of state of the Central European state of Hungary . The current president is János Áder .

Constitutional position

According to the current 2011 constitution , the president is the head of state. He embodies the unity of the nation, represents the state of Hungary and oversees the democratic activity of the state organs.

Competencies

The President has the following powers and duties:

can take part in the sessions of Parliament and speak

can initiate laws

can initiate referendums at state level

sets the time for parliamentary, mayoral and European elections, as well as referendums at state level

makes decisions on issues that affect a particular legal system

convenes the constituent session of parliament

has the right to dissolve parliament

can forward passed laws to the constitutional court to examine conformity with the Basic Law or return them to parliament for consideration

makes proposals for the person of the Prime Minister , the President of the Curia, the Chief Public Prosecutor and the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights

appoints the professional judges and the President of the Budget Council

confirms the President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in his office

is in command of the armed forces ( army and air force )

designs the organizational structure of his office

The countersignature of a member of the government is required for the following actions and decisions by the President:

recognizes the binding effect of international treaties based on the authorization of Parliament
commissions and receives ambassadors and envoys
appoints ministers, the President of the Hungarian National Bank and its Vice-Presidents, heads of independent regulatory bodies and university professors
commissions the rectors of the universities
appoint and promote generals
confers awards, prizes and titles stipulated by law or approves the wearing of foreign state awards
exercise the individual right of pardon from
decides on issues of territorial organization that fall within its area of responsibility and competence
decides in matters with the acquisition and loss of citizenship associated
decides on all matters that are referred to by law in its area of competence

choice

The President will by Parliament in a secret ballot for a term chosen by five years. Re-election is only possible once. The president is to be elected at least thirty and at most sixty days before the expiry of the previous president's mandate - if the mandate has expired prematurely, within thirty days of the expiry of the mandate. The election is scheduled by the Speaker of Parliament .

Anyone who has Hungarian citizenship and is at least thirty-fifth years of age can be elected. The election is preceded by a nomination. A written recommendation from at least one fifth of the Members of Parliament is required for the nomination to be valid . The recommendation must be submitted to the President of Parliament before the vote is ordered. Each MP can recommend a candidate. The recommendations of the one who nominates multiple candidates are all invalid.

The candidate is considered elected who received the votes of at least two thirds of the members of parliament in the first round of voting.

If the first round of voting was unsuccessful, a second vote must be held. In the second vote, the votes can be cast on the two candidates who received the most votes in the first ballot. If there was a tie in first place in the first vote, the votes can be cast on the candidates who received the most votes. If there was only a tie in second place in the first vote, the votes can be cast on those candidates who received the two most votes. The president elected on the basis of the second ballot is considered to be who - regardless of the number of participants in the election - has received the most valid votes. If the second ballot is also unsuccessful, a new election must be held due to repeated nominations.

The electoral process must be completed within a maximum of two consecutive days.

Taking office

The elected president takes office when the mandate of the previous president expires - if the mandate expires prematurely on the eighth day after the announcement of the results of the election. Before taking office, he takes the oath in front of the parliament.

incompatibility

The office of president is incompatible with any other state, social, economic and political office or mandate. The President may not pursue any other gainful activity. He may not accept any remuneration for other activities (with the exception of activities falling under copyright protection).

Term expires

The President's mandate expires in the following cases:

at the end of the term of his mandate
with his passing
if he is unable to carry out his duties for more than 90 days
if the requirements for his election no longer exist
with the declaration of incompatibility
with his resignation
by revoking the title of President of the Republic

Immunity and Prosecution

The President has full immunity during his term of office . Criminal proceedings can only be initiated against him after the end of his term of office.

If the President intentionally violates the Basic Law or any other law in connection with the exercise of his office or commits an intentional criminal offense, one fifth of the members of parliament can propose removal from office. The votes of two thirds of the MPs are required to initiate the impeachment procedure . The vote on it takes place in secret. The President may not exercise his areas of competence from the resolution of Parliament until the end of the impeachment procedure.

The implementation of impeachment proceedings falls within the competence of the Constitutional Court. If, as a result of the proceedings, the latter determines that the President is responsible in terms of public law , it can remove him from his office.

Incapacity and vacancy

If the President is temporarily unable to attend, his tasks and areas of competence will be temporarily taken over by the President of Parliament until the end of the absence. The President of Parliament also temporarily takes over the official business at the end of the term of office of the previous President until the newly elected President takes office.

The President of Parliament cannot exercise his rights as a Member of Parliament if he is representing the President in his office. During this period his tasks and duties are carried out by a Vice-President elected by Parliament.

Web links

Official website of the President of Hungary (Hungarian, English)
German language version of the Hungarian Basic Law from 2011 www.verfassungen.eu