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An early indirect presidential election was held in Hungary on 26 February 2024, following the resignation of Katalin Novák. Tamás Sulyok was elected president with an absolute majority.
Background
Further information: Katalin Novák presidential pardon scandalOn 10 February 2024 President Katalin Novák announced her resignation (effective upon approval by Parliament) over the controversial pardon of a vice principal of a foster home in Bicske, who tried to cover up the principal's crimes when the latter was charged for child molestation. The vice principal's pardon became known to the public on 2 February 2024, after which protests demanding Novák's resignation took place.
The opposition alliance United for Hungary called for the direct election of the President of the Republic in their manifesto for the 2022 parliamentary election, which would require amending or replacing the current constitution. On 25 February, opposition parties held a rally in Budapest calling for direct presidential elections.
On 26 February the National Assembly formally accepted Novák's resignation, leading to the termination of her mandate.
Electoral system
Under the current Constitution of Hungary adopted by the Fidesz–KDNP government coalition in 2011, the President of the Republic is elected via secret ballot by the National Assembly, no sooner than sixty but no later than thirty days before expiry of the mandate (five years) of the previous office-holder, or if their mandate terminated prematurely, within thirty days of the termination. The constitution authorizes the Speaker of the National Assembly to set the date for the election.
A presidential candidate needs the written nomination of at least one-fifth of the Members of Parliament (thus 40 MPs), who may not nominate more than one candidate. In the first round of the election, a two-thirds majority of all incumbent MPs is required to elect the president. If this condition is not fulfilled, a second round is held between the two candidates who received the highest and second highest numbers of votes in the first round. (Since 1990, there have been no more than two candidates in any presidential election.) A simple majority of the voting MPs is then sufficient. If only one candidate is nominated, the assembly votes on whether to confirm or reject their election to the presidency, with each MP being allowed to vote either for or against, but not to cast their vote for an alternative candidate.
Results
| Candidate | Nominating Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| In favor of Tamás Sulyok | Independent | 134 | 67.67% |
| Against Sulyok | – | 5 | 2.53% |
| Didn't vote | 52 | 26.26% | |
| Blank and invalid votes | 7 | 3.54% | |
| Total votes | 146 | 73.74% | |
| Total seats | 198 | 100% | |
References
- "Novák Katalin kegyelmet adott a bicskei gyerekotthon egykori igazgatóhelyettesének, aki fedezte a pedofil exigazgatót". telex (in Hungarian). 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- Több ezres tömeg követeli Novák Katalin köztársasági elnök lemondását a fővárosban, 9 February 2024, retrieved 10 February 2024
- "Csak Felfelé! Az Emelkedő Magyarország Programja" (PDF). Egységben Magyarorszégért. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2022.
- "Hungary parliament elects new president following scandal". Al Jazeera. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- "Elfogadta a parlament Novák Katalin köztársasági elnök lemondását". Infostart (in Hungarian). 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "The Fundamental Law of Hungary" (PDF). Government of Hungary. 25 April 2011.
- "Megvan Novák Katalin utódja: a politikát kerülő jogász, Sulyok Tamás az új köztársasági elnök". 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- "LEAD Tamas Sulyok élu président de Hongrie". french.china.org.cn. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024..
 Presidential elections in Hungary | |
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| Second Republic | |
| Third Republic | |