Árpád Göncz
Árpád Göncz | |
|---|---|
Göncz in 1999 | |
| 1st President of Hungary | |
| In office 2 May 1990[a] – 3 August 2000 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Mátyás Szűrös (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Ferenc Mádl |
| Speaker of the National Assembly | |
| In office 2 May 1990 – 3 August 1990 | |
| Preceded by | István Fodor |
| Succeeded by | György Szabad |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 2 May 1990 – 3 August 1990 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1922 Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary |
| Died | 6 October 2015 (aged 93) Budapest, Hungary |
| Political party | |
| Spouse |
Zsuzsanna Göntér (m. 1947) |
| Children | 4, including Kinga |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | Pázmány Péter University (JD) |
| Profession |
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| Signature | |
| a. ^ Acting until 3 August 1990 | |
Árpád Göncz (Hungarian: [ˈaːrpaːd ˈɡønt͡s]; 10 February 1922 – 6 October 2015) was a Hungarian writer, translator, lawyer and liberal politician who served as President of Hungary from 2 May 1990 to 4 August 2000. Göncz played a role in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, for which he was imprisoned for six years. After his release, he worked as a translator of English-language literary works.
He was also a founding member of the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) and Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary (de facto head of state) before becoming president. He was Hungary's first freely elected head of state, as well as the first in 42 years who was not a communist or a fellow traveller.
He was a member of the international advisory council of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.