Janos Ader elected Hungary's new president
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E-mail Xinhua, May 2, 2012
Hungary's new president Janos Ader took the oath of office in Budapest on Wednesday immediately following his election by parliament.
Ader, a long-time member of the ruling Fidesz party, won the presidential post in a vote of 262 to 40 with two opposition parties in the 386-seat house refusing to participate in the vote.
Parliament elects the president in Hungary, and to win on first ballot a nominee needs a two-thirds majority.
Ader was the only candidate as Fidesz holds a two-thirds majority in parliament and was essentially a shoo-in. The socialist MSZP party and the green LMP party refused to participate in the voting, while the far right Jobbik party voted against the nominee.
Ader's election comes 30 days after the resignation of his predecessor Pal Schmitt, who stepped down amidst a scandal after his university doctorate was revoked for plagiary.
Ader will take office on May 10 for a five-year term. Until then, Speaker of Parliament Laszlo Kover is serving as temporary president.
Ader, who will be 53 on May 9, is a founding member of the Fidesz party. He served as Speaker of Parliament during the 1998-2002 Fidesz administration and, until his election as president of the country, represented Hungary as a Member of the European Parliament.
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