Zoltán Pokorni

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Zoltán Pokorni
Pokorni Zoltan 2008-10-23 (crop).JPG
Minister of Education of Hungary
In office
8 July 1998 – 15 July 2001
Preceded by Bálint Magyar
Succeeded by József Pálinkás
Member of the National Assembly
In office
28 June 1994 – 5 May 2014
Personal details
Born (1962-01-10)10 January 1962
Budapest, People's Republic of Hungary
Political party Fidesz
Spouse(s) Andrea Beck
Children Benedek Donát
Ágoston Jakab
Ábel Boldizsár
Barnabás Vince
Profession educator, politician

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Zoltán Pokorni (born 10 January 1962) is a Hungarian educator and politician, who served as Minister of Education between 1998 and 2001.

He finished his studies in the Eötvös Loránd University in 1987. After that he worked as a teacher for the Toldy Ferenc Grammar School. He was a founding member of the Association of Young Educators and the Democratic Union of Educators (PDSZ). He was the spokesman of PDSZ until 1993. He also took part in the negotiations of the Opposition Round Table. During that time he was the chief editor of Rádió. He joined Fidesz in 1993.

Pokorni became a member of the National Assembly of Hungary in 1994. He was a deputy chairman of the Committee of Education, Research, Youth and Sport between 1994 and 1998. He served as leader of Fidesz's parliamentary group from 1997 to 1998.

After Fidesz won the 1998 elections, the new Prime Minister Viktor Orbán appointed him Minister of Education. During his ministership, the integration of the higher education systems were finalized, the student loan system established and tuition was abolished. He was elected as the President of Fidesz, succeeding László Kövér. As a result he resigned from his ministerial position. After Fidesz lost the 2002 elections he once again became the leader of the parliamentary group.

On July 2002 after it was exposed that his father, János Pokorni, worked for the Ministry of the Interior as a III/III agent, Pokorni resigned from his position at the party and also as leader of the parliamentary group. He returned to politics on May 2003, when he was elected as one of the vice presidents of Fidesz. He held this office until December 2015. He gained a seat on the 2006 elections again. He did not take on the function of group leader because of his conflicts with the party leadership. Pokorni was elected as mayor of the XII District of Budapest (Hegyvidék) in 2006.

Married, his wife is Andrea Beck psychologist. They have four children: Benedek Donát (1992), Ágoston Jakab (1996), Ábel Boldizsár (1999) and Barnabás Vince (2001).

References

National Assembly of Hungary
Preceded by Leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group
1997–1998
Succeeded by
József Szájer
Preceded by Leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group
2002
Succeeded by
János Áder
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Education
1998–2001
Succeeded by
József Pálinkás
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
2002
Succeeded by
János Áder
Party political offices
Preceded by President of Fidesz
2001–2002
Succeeded by
János Áder