Zoltán Pokorni

Who is Zoltán Pokorni?

Zoltán Pokorni 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. He was the spokesman of the latter organization too until 1993. He also took part in the negotiations of the Opposition Round Table, during that time he was the chief editor of the Rádió. He joined to the 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 the Fidesz parliamentary group from 1997 to 1998.

The Fidesz won the 1998 elections. The new Prime Minister Viktor Orbán appointed him Minister of Education. During his ministership the integration of the high education institutions finished, the student loan system established and the tuition abolished. He was elected to the President of the Fidesz, following László Kövér as a result of he resigned from the ministerial position. After the abortive 2002 elections he became group leader again.