Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has outlined the qualities his Tisza Party wants in Hungary’s next president, saying the ideal candidate would have no party-political background or affiliations.

In a Facebook post published after President Tamás Sulyok signed the constitutional amendment ending his own mandate, Magyar said the next head of state should embody national unity and serve the country independently of party politics.

“In Tisza’s view, the president who could best embody the unity of the nation would be someone who serves the nation without any party-political past or affiliation.”

Have you heard? Hungary’s President Sulyok signs constitutional amendment ending his own mandate

Parliament must elect a new president within 30 days

The issue became urgent after Sulyok announced that he had signed the 17th amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law. Once the amendment takes effect, his presidential mandate ends, and Parliament will have 30 days to elect a new head of state.

Until then, Ágnes Forsthoffer will temporarily exercise the powers of the president in her role as Speaker of Parliament.

Under Hungary’s constitution, the president is elected by Parliament in a secret ballot requiring a two-thirds majority. Tisza currently has a comfortable two-thirds majority, meaning it has the votes needed to elect a candidate on its own.

Magyar promises consultations with other parties

Although Tisza has the parliamentary numbers to choose the president independently, Magyar said he would convene the party’s parliamentary group on Monday and consult with the leaders of other parliamentary factions before a final decision is made.

He stressed that while Parliament would formally elect the president, the nomination should also be based on broader public trust.

“The moral basis of the nomination can be provided by the trust of society.”

Magyar added that he was confident Hungary could elect a president who would be fully capable of representing the unity of the Hungarian nation and serving the country with dignity.

Mandate may be temporary

According to the newly adopted constitutional amendment, the next president’s mandate will last until Hungary’s planned new constitution enters into force, but for no longer than five years. Magyar reiterated that Tisza wants to nominate someone who genuinely represents national unity and could also receive support from opposition MPs.

No specific candidate has yet been named.

What this means

Hungary is now entering a new presidential selection process following the end of Tamás Sulyok’s mandate. While Tisza has enough parliamentary votes to elect a president on its own, Péter Magyar’s statement suggests the party is seeking a candidate who can be presented as politically independent and broadly acceptable across party lines.

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