Tamas Sulyok elected as Hungary's new president

BUDAPEST -- Hungarian lawmakers on Monday elected Tamas Sulyok, head of the Constitutional Court, as the country's new president.

Out of the 199 members of parliament (MP), 146 participated in the voting, with 134 votes in favor, five against and seven invalid.

Most opposition MPs did not participate in the vote. The opposition parties failed to reach an agreement on a common candidate to challenge.

"As a jurist, and in my role as the President of the Republic, my foremost commitment is to serve the public good and to embody the nation's unity, all the while upholding the fundamental values of the law," Sulyok said last Thursday upon his nomination.

Sulyok's predecessor Katalin Novak stepped down on Feb 10 following a child abuse pardon scandal.

Sulyok has been elected for a mandate of five years and can be re-elected for one more term according to the fundamental law. His inaugural ceremony will take place on March 5.