Tamás Sulyok (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈtɒmaːʃ ˈʃujok]; born 24 March 1956) is a Hungarian politician and lawyer who has served as the president of Hungary since 2024. He was the president of the Constitutional Court from 2016 until 2024. He was the Fidesz–KDNP candidate for the 2024 presidential election.[1]
Tamás Sulyok | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2024 | |
| 7th President of Hungary | |
| Assumed office 5 March 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Viktor Orbán |
| Preceded by | Katalin Novák |
| President of the Constitutional Court | |
| In office 22 November 2016 – 4 March 2024 | |
| Appointed by | National Assembly |
| Preceded by | Barnabás Lenkovics |
| Succeeded by | László Salamon (acting) |
| Member of the Constitutional Court | |
| In office 27 September 2014 – 4 March 2024 | |
| Appointed by | National Assembly |
| Hungarian Honorary Consul to Austria | |
| In office 2000–2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tamás Sulyok 24 March 1956 Kiskunfélegyháza, Hungary |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Zsuzsanna Nagy |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Szeged |
| Occupation |
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Biography
editSulyok was appointed as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Hungary in 2014 and became its head in 2016. During his tenure, he oversaw several controversial rulings such as those involving the rights of teachers to go on strike.[2]
In February 2024, he became the nominee of the Fidesz party for President following the resignation of Katalin Novák due to uproar over her pardoning of an associate in a sexual abuse case. His nomination was approved in a two-thirds vote (134 in favor, 5 against and 60 leaving the chamber in protest)[3] by the National Assembly on 26 February, with support from Fidesz and its coalition partner, the Christian Democratic People's Party, after which he took his oath of office, although he would not be formally assuming the position until 5 March. Opposition parties criticized his nomination, describing Sulyok as politically inexperienced, and held a rally in Budapest on 25 February calling for direct presidential elections.[2]
In his inaugural address, Sulyok expressed his intent to be a follower of the letter of the law who would seek to refrain from engaging in Hungary’s political life. He also denounced the sanctions and procedures initiated by the European Union against Hungary over concerns in the rule of law and democratic governance, saying that "the correctly defined concept of the rule of law is being lost, transformed from an ideal into an idol in today's Europe as part of a purely utilitarian political approach", and emphasizing that EU member states should retain their legal national sovereignty.[3]
Upon assuming office, his first act as president was to sign a bill approving the accession of Sweden to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on 5 March.[4]
References
edit- ^ Presinszky, Judit (22 February 2024). "Sulyok Tamás, az Alkotmánybíróság elnöke a Fidesz-KDNP államfőjelöltje". telex (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Hungary parliament elects new president following scandal". Al Jazeera. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b Spike, Justin (27 February 2024). "Hungarian parliament elects new president after predecessor resigned in scandal". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Hungary's president formally signs the approval of Sweden's NATO bid, removing last obstacle". Al Jazeera. 5 March 2024. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
External links
edit
Media related to Tamás Sulyok at Wikimedia Commons
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