Hungary’s new President Janos Ader highlighted his position above party politics in his inauguration address on Wednesday, political analysts told MTI.
Ferenc Kumin, analyst from the Szazadved Foundation, said that Ader presented himself as a head of state representing all groups within the nation, thus defying the most often voiced criticism that he was much too closely connected to the political right.
Ader’s inauguration address was “convincing proof” that the new president is fully prepared for his position, and he approaches his “high position and the magnitude of his job with due humility,” Kumin said.
Attila Juhasz of Political Capital said that Ader’s speech was “typical” for a presidential inauguration address, one laden with “many commonplaces and gestures”.
According to Juhasz, Ader stressed his openness to all political sides and to all groups of society, and counterbalanced his being a party politician and the attitude of Pal Schmitt, his predecessor, who had early on defined his role as being an “engine” for the government.
Ader is expected to show greater autonomy to the public than his predecessor, though he is not likely to “pose a significant counterweight to the government”, Juhasz said.
Gabor Filippov from the Hungarian Progressive Institute said that one of Ader’s primary tasks will be to prove that he can leave his Fidesz-associated past behind and perform his duties uninfluenced by party interests.
Parliament elected Ader President of Hungary for a five-year term.
