“Every Hungarian can count on me” – Katalin Novák, Hungary’s First Female President, Takes Office

Hungary Today 2022.05.10.

Katalin Novák, who has taken office today, on Tuesday, as Hungary’s next president, introduced her staff, calling its members “outstanding experts.” The inauguration ceremony of the new president will take place on May 14.

This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.

Hungary’s first female president Katalin Novák posted a picture on Facebook with outgoing President János Áder and wrote:

This morning I took over the keys to the Sándor Palace from János Áder. Every Hungarian can count on me and I count on every Hungarian.”

Áder greeted Novák at the entrance of Sándor Palace in the Castle District and showed her around the presidential offices and residency before making an appearance with her on the presidential building’s balcony.

President-elect Expresses 'Personal Commitment to National Unity'

Novák said her points of reference are God, faith, family, and friends.Continue reading

On her Facebook page, Novák wrote that although she will take office on Tuesday, the inauguration ceremony will take place on May 14. It will begin with an ecumenical service at the Reformed Church in Kálvin Square, continue in Kossuth Square, and then the doors of the Sándor Palace will be opened in the afternoon. According to the invitation, a cultural program will be held at the ceremony in Kossuth Square after the speech of the President of the Republic.

The organization and security of the event are the responsibility of a separate operational staff, established and led by Antal Rogán. Viktor Orbán’s decision to make the ceremony a priority was published in the latest Hungarian Gazette (Magyar Közlöny).

Fact

Hungary’s president fulfills a largely ceremonial role. According to the Fundamental Law, the president expresses the unity of the nation, protects the democratic functions of the state, and is Commander-in-Chief of the Hungarian Armed Forces. The head of state is elected by the parliament for five years and can fulfill no more than two terms of office.

As we have also reported, Tamás Schanda, former parliamentary and strategic state secretary of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, and former deputy minister will head the cabinet, while Gergely Ekler will be in charge of the office.

Novák will reportedly be assisted in diplomatic matters by Ambassador Kristóf Altusz in Copenhagen and by Ambassador István Manno in Dublin. Tünde Volf-Nagy, a former reporter for public television, will be responsible for communications.

Incoming President Novák Presents Staff

Novák will officially be inaugurated to her office in an ecumenical service in the Kálvin Square reformed church on May 14.Continue reading

Parliament elected Novák president on March 10, and she will be the sixth president since the 1989/90 change of political system.

Featured image: Katalin Novák with János Áder. Photo by Noémi Bruzák/MTI