Election and status

Under the Ombudsman Act parliamentary commissioners are elected, upon nomination by the President of the Republic, by the two-thirds of the Members of Parliament for a period of six years (the term of Parliament is four years). An active ombudsperson can be re-elected once.

Ombudsman candidates have to fulfil a number of formal and qualitative criteria. Only Hungarian citizens holding a degree in law can be elected who can demonstrate at least a decade of legal practice or outstanding academic achievements in the relevant field. Holding a number of political (President of the Republic, member of government, etc.) and administrative positions (state secretary, member defence and police forces, etc.) triggers a four year moratorium for election as ombudsman.

Following their election, ombudsmen are fully independent in their person, office, investigation, etc. They cannot seek or receive instructions from any authority or person, including other ombudsmen. Their only formal obligation towards Parliament is the presentation of an annual report on their activities.

Being an ombudsman is incompatible with any other professional, political, economic or administrative occupation. He can only receive additional remuneration for academic activities. Following election and every third year the ombudsman has to prepare and publish a report on his financial status.

Ombudsmen enjoy the same immunity from prosecution as Members of Parliament. They can be removed from office only by the vote of two-thirds of Parliament upon a material breach of his fundamental obligations or a conviction by a court of justice of a serious crime.