László Sólyom (1942-) is a lawyer, librarian and former judge who serves as the President of Hungary.
On August 20, Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia officially informed Antal Heizer, ambassador of Hungary in Bratislava that László Sólyom is not recommended to cross the border on the next day.
The minor party of the coalition government (SZDSZ) did not support the superior coalition government party's (MSZP) candidate, therefore Mr. Sólyom could win as an opposition candidate.
EP President Martin Schulz, former German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, President János Áder, former presidents László Sólyom and Pál Schmitt, Archbishop Péter Erdő and former parliamentary speaker Katalin Szili were also in attendance, as well as representatives of the Socialist party, Fidesz, Christian Democrats, PM and DK, among others.
Another reason for the failed nomination was that SZDSZ was not consulted ahead of time and Szili lacked qualifications compared to Sólyom who previously held high office as the president of the Constitutional Court of Hungary.
However, if the governing parties had been united in support of the Hungarian Socialist Party candidate, Katalin Szili, Sólyom would not have secured enough votes to take the Presidency; but because Szili was not acceptable to the Alliance of Free Democrats, the smaller party in the governing coalition, they abstained from voting, and Sólyom's election was secured.