The Presidential Council of the Hungarian People's Republic was the collective head of state of Hungary during the Communist era. It was created in 1949, following the enactment of a new constitution that year that officially created the People's Republic of Hungary. Originally vested with broad powers during the interim of parliamentary sessions, its jurisdiction was limited throughout the moderate liberalization witnessed during the Kadar era. Along with the state itself, it was abolished on 23 October 1989.

The Parliament of Hungary, upon the recommendation of the Presidential Council, elected and relieved the chairman and ministers of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic of their duties.

List of chairmen of the Presidential Council

Parties'   MDP–MSZMP   Independent

No.	Picture	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Political Party
1		Árpád Szakasits (1888–1965)	23 August 1949	26 April 1950	MDP
2		Sándor Rónai (1892–1965)	26 April 1950	14 August 1952
3		István Dobi (1898–1968)	14 August 1952	25 October 1956
(3)			25 October 1956	14 April 1967	MSZMP
4		Pál Losonczi (1919–2005)	14 April 1967	25 June 1987
5		Károly Németh (1922–2008)	25 June 1987	29 June 1988
6		Brunó Ferenc Straub (1914–1996)	29 June 1988	23 October 1989	Independent

List of vice-chairmen of the Presidential Council

Two vice presidents served simultaneously. They were deputy heads of state.

See also

• List of heads of state of Hungary during the Hungarian People's Republic (1949-1989)
• List of vice presidents of the Presidential Council of Hungary