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Pal Schmitt becomes Hungary's new president
30.06.2010 by
Pál Schmitt becomes Hungary’s new president
On 29 June, the Hungarian parliament elected Pál Schmitt as the new head of state. Supported by Fidesz, the Conservative party led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the 68-year-old politician obtained 263 votes, while 59 MPs voted for the Socialist candidate, András Balogh. Schmitt was sworn in immediately after the vote and announced that he was leaving Fidesz, of which he has been a member since 2003. The new president will officially take office on 6 August. Schmitt was elected MEP in 2004, representing Fidesz. Re-elected in 2009, he left the European Parliament following his election to the Hungarian National Assembly, of which he became speaker, on 14 May. This former two-time Olympic fencing champion succeeds the lawyer László Sólyom, who has been head of state since 2005. Pál Schmitt was President of the World Olympians Association for two terms, is an International Olympic Committee member and President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
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