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Mátyás Szűrös

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Mátyás Szűrös
Szűrös in 2001
Acting President of Hungary
In office
23 October 1989 – 2 May 1990
Prime MinisterMiklós Németh
Preceded byBrunó Ferenc Straub
(as Chairman of the Presidential Council of Hungary)
Succeeded byÁrpád Göncz
Speaker of the National Assembly
In office
10 March 1989 – 23 October 1989
Preceded byIstván Stadinger
Succeeded byIstván Fodor (acting)
Árpád Göncz
Personal details
Born (1933-09-11) 11 September 1933 (age 91)
Püspökladány, Hungary
Political partyMSZMP (?–1989)
MSZP (1989–2002)
New Left Party (2002–2003)
SZDP (2003–2013)
SpouseAndrea Takács
ChildrenMátyás
Iván
Lili Andrea

Mátyás Szűrös (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈmaːcaːʃ ˈsyːrøʃ]; born 11 September 1933) is a Hungarian politician. He served as provisional president of the Republic from 23 October 1989 to 2 May 1990. His presidency occurred during Hungary's transition from Communism to democratic government.[1][2]

Biography

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Szűrös served as Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary from March 1989 to May 1990. In the fall of 1989, as part of an agreement between the Communists and the opposition to establish multiparty democracy, the 1949 Constitution was almost completely rewritten to remove its Communist character. The Presidential Council, the country's Communist-era collective presidency, was dissolved. Under the Constitution, Szűrös became provisional president until the election. Soon after taking office on 23 October he made the official proclamation that Hungary had removed the "People's Republic" from its constitutional name and was now the "Republic of Hungary."[2][3]

He remained in parliament until 2002 as a member of the Hungarian Socialist Party, often voting against the party consensus. He quit the party, in 2002, joined the newly established New Left Party and ran as their prime minister candidate at the parliamentary elections, but the party only got 0.1% of the popular vote. In 2003, he joined the Social Democratic Party and was later elected chairman of the party. He resigned his position in 2005.[2]

References

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  1. ^ New Hungary Marks '56 Uprising: 'Gorby!' and 'Russians Out!' Mix
  2. ^ a b c "30 Years of Freedom - Third Time's a Charm: The Hungarian Republic Reborn". Budapest Business Journal. 8 May 2020.
  3. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCyVqfB5TKg Proclamation of the Third Republic of Hungary the October 23rd 1989
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the National Assembly
1989–1990
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Brunó Ferenc Straub
Chairman of the Presidential Council
Provisional President of Hungary
1989–1990
Succeeded by