Zsolt Semjén
Encyclopedia
Zsolt Semjén is a Hungarian
politician, currently minister without portfolio and Deputy Prime Minister in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
. Semjén is the leader of the Christian Democratic People's Party
(KDNP) since 2003, which formed a coalition and alliance with Fidesz.
. In 1992 he graduated from sociology
at the University. After that he attended Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest
professionally bound with Budapest universities. In the second half of the 90s his doctorate in theology
, he took a position as a professor of the university.
In 1989 during the political transition was among the founders of the Christian Democratic People's Party
. He was a member of the executive committee and employee of the National Assembly
. From 1990 to 1994 he served as district councilor. In 1994 he obtained a parliamentary seat in 1997, he was the deputy leader of KDNP. Soon he left the party, joined the faction of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
. In 1998, Viktor Orbán
gave him the position of secretary of state
for the church. In 2002 Zsolt Semjén returned to parliament from a list of Fidesz and the Democrats.
Soon, he rejoined the extra-parliamentary KDNP then, and in 2003 became chairman of this party. Led to a coalition of Christian Democrats of Fidesz (while maintaining organizational independence) and close cooperation between the two groups, ongoing since 2005. In 2006 and 2010 parliamentary mandate renewed for another term. In the second government of Viktor Orbán he became minister without portfolio and Deputy Prime Minister.
He and his wife represented the Hungarian government at the interment of the heart of former Hungarian Crown Prince Otto
in Pannonhalma Archabbey
, as the only persons present who were not Habsburg family members or clerics.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
politician, currently minister without portfolio and Deputy Prime Minister in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
Viktor Orbán
Viktor Orbán is a Hungarian populist and conservative politician and current Prime Minister of Hungary...
. Semjén is the leader of the Christian Democratic People's Party
Christian Democratic People's Party (Hungary)
The Christian Democratic People's Party is a political party in Hungary.- History :The party was founded in 1944 by Hungarian Catholic statesmen, intellectuals, and ecclesiastical such as Bishop Vilmos Apor, Béla Kovrig , László Varga and General József Pálffy, among others...
(KDNP) since 2003, which formed a coalition and alliance with Fidesz.
Career
After high school he worked in the first half of the 80s in industrial companies. He educated in theology at the Pázmány Péter Catholic UniversityPázmány Péter Catholic University
Pázmány Péter Catholic University is a private university of the Catholic Church in Hungary, recognized by the State. Founded in 1635, the PPCU is one of Hungary's oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education....
. In 1992 he graduated from sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at the University. After that he attended Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
professionally bound with Budapest universities. In the second half of the 90s his doctorate in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, he took a position as a professor of the university.
In 1989 during the political transition was among the founders of the Christian Democratic People's Party
Christian Democratic People's Party
Several countries have political parties that use the name "Christian Democratic People's Party."*Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland*Christian Democratic People's Party of Hungary*Christian Democratic People's Party of Romania...
. He was a member of the executive committee and employee of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Hungary
The National Assembly or Diet is the parliament of Hungary. The unicameral body consists of 386 members elected to 4-year terms. Election of members is based on a complex system involving both area and list election; parties must win at least 5% of the popular vote in order to enter list members...
. From 1990 to 1994 he served as district councilor. In 1994 he obtained a parliamentary seat in 1997, he was the deputy leader of KDNP. Soon he left the party, joined the faction of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
Hungarian Democratic Forum
The Hungarian Democratic Forum , abbreviated to MDF, was a centre-right political party in Hungary. It had a liberal conservative and Christian democratic ideology...
. In 1998, Viktor Orbán
Viktor Orbán
Viktor Orbán is a Hungarian populist and conservative politician and current Prime Minister of Hungary...
gave him the position of secretary of state
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
for the church. In 2002 Zsolt Semjén returned to parliament from a list of Fidesz and the Democrats.
Soon, he rejoined the extra-parliamentary KDNP then, and in 2003 became chairman of this party. Led to a coalition of Christian Democrats of Fidesz (while maintaining organizational independence) and close cooperation between the two groups, ongoing since 2005. In 2006 and 2010 parliamentary mandate renewed for another term. In the second government of Viktor Orbán he became minister without portfolio and Deputy Prime Minister.
He and his wife represented the Hungarian government at the interment of the heart of former Hungarian Crown Prince Otto
Death and funeral of Otto von Habsburg
On 4 July 2011, Otto von Habsburg, also known as Otto of Austria, former head of the House of Habsburg and Sovereign of the Order of the Golden Fleece and former Crown Prince and, by pretence, Emperor-King , of Austria-Hungary—or formally, of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia, of Dalmatia, Croatia,...
in Pannonhalma Archabbey
Pannonhalma Archabbey
The Benedictine Pannonhalma Archabbey is the most notable landmark in Pannonhalma and one of the oldest historical monuments in Hungary, founded in the year 996. It is located near the town, on top of a hill...
, as the only persons present who were not Habsburg family members or clerics.
External links
- Zsolt Semjén's webpage
- Datapage
- Biography
- Semjén: Rendszeresen imádkozom Gyurcsányért (Index interview)