Baka András names Timár István Szilveszter head of Sándor-palota office

President Dr. Baka András has appointed Dr. Timár István Szilveszter as head of office (hivatalvezető) of the Sándor-palota, the seat of the Hungarian presidency, with effect from 19 August 2026. The appointment was made by presidential decision 198/2026. (VIII. 19.) KE, published in the Magyar Közlöny of 19 August 2026, which simultaneously revokes the director-general appointment granted under decision 305/2024. (XI. 29.) KE.

The move is part of a wider reorganisation of the presidential office. A companion instrument, instruction 1/2026. (VIII. 19.) KE, amends the Sándor-palota’s organisational and operating rules (SZMSZ), replacing the post of director-general (főigazgató) with that of head of office throughout the internal regulations.

A new head for the presidential office

The decision appoints Dr. Timár István Szilveszter to lead the Sándor-palota, the official residence and working office of the President of the Republic. The appointment takes effect on 19 August 2026, the same day the decision was issued in Budapest.

In the same act, the President withdrew the earlier director-general appointment made under decision 305/2024. (XI. 29.) KE, so that the two posts are not held simultaneously. The decision was signed by Dr. Baka András as President of the Republic, under case number SP/2482-1/2026.

Organisational reform: from director-general to head of office

The restructuring is formalised by instruction 1/2026. (VIII. 19.) KE, which amends the Sándor-palota’s SZMSZ established by instruction 1/2025. (II. 7.) KE. The reform replaces the title of director-general with that of head of office across the entire set of internal rules, and introduces a new deputy position:

• The head of office is generally substituted by a deputy head of office (hivatalvezető-helyettes), appointed with the President’s approval.
• The head of office exercises the employer’s rights over the deputy, and disciplinary measures against the deputy require the President’s prior consent.
• The reference date in the SZMSZ is updated from 5 April 2024 to 19 August 2026, with the corresponding case number changed to SP/2472-2/2026.

The instruction was issued under the powers set out in Article 9(3)(m) of the Fundamental Law and Section 6/B of Act CX of 2011 on the legal status and remuneration of the President of the Republic.

Legal basis and entry into force

The appointment decision rests on Article 9(3)(m) of the Fundamental Law and Section 6/C(2)(b) of Act CX of 2011. The organisational instruction enters into force at 19:00 on the day of its publication, 19 August 2026.

The reform aligns the internal structure of the presidential office with the new leadership model, giving the head of office direct responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Sándor-palota and a clear chain of substitution through the newly created deputy post.

For readers, the change signals a consolidation of the management of the presidential office under a single head of office, replacing the previous director-general structure. It also confirms Dr. Baka András as the incumbent President exercising the appointment powers of the office, and sets the leadership of the Sándor-palota on a new footing from mid-August 2026.

Source: Magyar Közlöny, 115. szám, 19 August 2026, IX. Határozatok Tára, p. 4017 (official reference: 198/2026. (VIII. 19.) KE határozat); Hivatalos Értesítő, 37. szám, p. 1612 (official reference: 1/2026. (VIII. 19.) KE utasítás).