Country profile: Hungary

HEAD OF STATE President (Ferenc MADL sworn in on 4 August 2000). The President is elected by the Parliament in a secret ballot for a term of five years and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in office. Although the presidential role is largely ceremonial, the President does have considerable rights in terms of foreign and domestic politics, and he is the head of the armed forces.The president appoints the members of the Cabinet and, based on his recommendation, the Prime Minister is elected by the Parliament.