Pál Schmitt
Pál Schmitt (Hungarian: [ˈpaːl ˈʃmitt]; born 13 May 1942) is a Hungarian Olympic fencer and politician who served as President of Hungary from 2010 until his resignation in 2012, following his academic misconduct controversy.
Pál Schmitt | |
|---|---|
Schmitt in 2011 | |
| President of Hungary | |
| In office 6 August 2010 – 2 April 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Viktor Orbán |
| Preceded by | László Sólyom |
| Succeeded by | János Áder |
| Speaker of the National Assembly | |
| In office 14 May 2010 – 5 August 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Béla Katona |
| Succeeded by | László Kövér |
| Vice-President of the European Parliament | |
| In office 14 July 2009 – 13 May 2010 | |
| President | Jerzy Buzek |
| Preceded by | Manuel António dos Santos |
| Succeeded by | László Tőkés |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 14 May 2010 – 5 August 2010 | |
| Member of the European Parliament for Hungary | |
| In office 14 July 2009 – 13 May 2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 May 1942 Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary |
| Political party | Fidesz (2003–present) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Petra |
| Signature | |
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's fencing | ||
| Representing Hungary | ||
| 1968 Mexico City | Team Épée | |
| 1972 Munich | Team Épée | |
Schmitt was a successful fencer in his youth, winning two gold medals at the Summer Olympics. Later, he served as an ambassador during the 1990s and was a Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2010. After briefly serving as Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary in 2010, Schmitt was elected President of Hungary in a 263 to 59 vote in the National Assembly. He was sworn in as president on 6 August 2010. On 2 April 2012, Schmitt announced to the Hungarian Parliament his resignation as president, following the outbreak of a controversy surrounding his 1992 doctoral dissertation.