CPresident · 1990 – 2000OTS observer
Árpád Göncz
The first president of the Republic of Hungary (1922–2015), a writer and translator imprisoned for his part in the 1956 revolution.
Árpád Göncz spent six years in prison for his part in the 1956 revolution. After his release he translated English literature into Hungarian and wrote novels and plays himself; he was a founder of the Alliance of Free Democrats.
In May 1990 he became head of state as Speaker of parliament and was elected president that August; re-elected in 1995, he served until 2000 — the first freely elected head of state after the communist era.
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Updated: October 4, 2026