János Áder has been president of Hungary since May 10, 2012, assuming this office following Pál Schmitt’s resignation as Hungary’s head of state earlier that spring. 

Biography

Born and spent his childhood in the village of Csoma (northwestern Hungary, population 10,600). Graduated from high school in the city of Győr (population 130,000, northwestern Hungary) in 1977.

Received bachelor’s degree from Loránd Eötvös Department of Law and Political Sciences in Budapest in 1983. Worked as researcher at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Research Institute from 1986 to 1990, studying the legislative process in the Hungarian National Assembly.

Joined Fidesz in April 1988, though was not one of the party’s 37 founding members.

Fidesz National Assembly representative from 1990 to 2009. National Assembly speaker at the time of the first Orbán government, 1998–2002. President of Fidesz from 2002 to 2003. Chairman of the Fidesz National Assembly Caucus during the entire 2006–2010 parliamentary cycle.

Fidesz Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2012.  

Notable Quotes 

“This place is Hungary’s biggest cemetery.” April 28, 2014, speaking during the annual March of the Living Holocaust memorial at the Auschwitz-Birkenau  concentration camp (source in Hungarian). 

“Our sacred state-founding king looked to the west. This is what has held us in time. This is what has made us into a European people with millennial statehood. It is the most important source of our freedom and independence.” August 20, 2014, speaking at an official ceremony outside the Hungarian Parliament Building on Hungary’s August 20 Saint Stephen’s Day national holiday (source in Hungarian). 

“We have learned that we must demand for ourselves the respect that we deserve, just as we have learned that we gain this respect through respect given to others.” August 20, 2014, speaking at an official ceremony outside the Hungarian Parliament Building on Hungary’s August 20 Saint Stephen’s Day national holiday (source in Hungarian). 

“We have also learned over the past 1,000 years that it is worthwhile for us to work to increase the number of our allies rather than [the number of] enemies. This is the best method of defending our country and preserving our homeland.” August 20, 2014, speaking at an official ceremony outside the Hungarian Parliament Building on Hungary’s August 20 Saint Stephen’s Day national holiday (source in Hungarian).