President of Hungary

Pál Schmitt, President of Hungary (since June 29, 2010)

Pál Schmitt, President of Hungary

Pál Schmitt (born 13 May 1942 in Budapest) is a Hungarian politician, former Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary from 14 May 2010. He was elected as President of Hungary in a 263 to 59 vote in the Parliament of Hungary on June 29, 2010 and takes office on August 5, 2010.

Schmitt was elected in the 2009 elections as a Member of the European Parliament with the Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union, to the Bureau of the European People’s Party and was vice-chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education. Schmitt was also elected as the Vice President of the European Parliament , a post where he was succeeded by László Tőkés.

Schmitt chairs the Delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee. On July 14, 2009 he was elected one of the 14 Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament.

He is also a sportsman, won team épée gold medal at the Games of the XIX. Olympiad in Mexico (1968) and the XX. Olympiad in Munich (1972). He is the Chief of Protocol of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and presided the World Olympians Association between 1999 and 2007.