Árpád Göncz

Árpád Göncz, born in 1922, president of Hungary (1993-2000). Born in Budapest, Göncz received a law degree in 1944 and worked as an attorney at the National Land Credit Institute until 1945. In 1947 he began his political career in Budapest as the president of the Independent Smallholders’ Party. Eventually he became general secretary of the party. Until 1948 he edited the weekly Nemzedek (Generation). After his removal as editor, Göncz took odd jobs as a welder, pipe fitter, soil conservationist, and agricultural engineer between 1948 and 1956. During this time, Göncz continued his studies but was prevented from receiving his diploma, due to his involvement in Hungary’s failed 1956 revolution against Soviet domination. He was expelled from his university and spent six years in prison. From 1963 until 1980 he wrote plays, published several short stories and a novel, and translated more than 100 works into Hungarian, primarily from English. An active member of several writers’ unions, he received several distinguished literary awards.

Göncz was elected to Hungary’s National Assembly in the spring of 1990 as a member of the Alliance of Free Democrats. In May 1990 he became parliamentary speaker and thus the interim president of Hungary. In April 1993 the National Assembly reconfirmed Göncz as president in an unopposed election. Göncz was reelected president in 1995 for a five-year term.