Péter Kiss (11 June 1959 – 29 July 2014) was a Hungarian Socialist politician. In Bajnai's government, he was a minister without portfolio. He was one of the candidates to succeed Péter Medgyessy as prime minister in 2004 but lost to Ferenc Gyurcsány.

Career

In 1983 he graduated from the Technical University in Budapest, majoring in engineering. He was a member of the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers and the Society of Economic Sciences.

In 1989 he was a founder and first leader of the Left Youth Association. Since 1992, he was a board member of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), and since 1994 a member of its presidium. In 1992 he became a member of the National Assembly, where worked until his death.

Kiss also became a member of the National Assembly after the 2010 Hungarian parliamentary election winning a seat from the national list of MSZP. He was a member of the parliamentary Committee for Employment and Labour and deputy chairman of the Subcommittee for European Affairs. Between 29 June 2010 and 7 March 2011 he also worked for the ad hoc committee for the preparation of Constitution which was responsible for drafting the new constitution.

Death

Kiss died on 29 July 2014 due to prolonged illness. Commenting on his death, former PM Gyurcsány said Kiss was "a good man, an honest politician, a democrat, who excelled in peace-making and seeking compromises." Gordon Bajnai sent a message to the press, which he wrote Kiss "had been more than a politician, he was a statesman. He was a crucial player in helping Hungary successfully overcome one of the hardest crises of the past 30 years with the least possible pain suffered." András Schiffer, leader of the Politics Can Be Different told Kiss "understood and represented the desires of the country's employees and workers."

Kiss was buried in Kerepesi Cemetery on 15 August 2014. Several politicians and public figures attended the event, including former prime ministers Péter Boross, Péter Medgyessy, Ferenc Gyurcsány and Gordon Bajnai.

References

  • Bio (Hungarian)
  • Bio (English)