His presidency occurred during Hungary's transition from Communism to democratic government.

[1][2] Szűrös served as Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary from March 1989 to May 1990.

In the fall of 1989, as part of an agreement between the Communists and the opposition to establish multiparty democracy, the 1949 Constitution was almost completely rewritten to remove its Communist character.

The Presidential Council, the country's Communist-era collective presidency, was dissolved.

Soon after taking office on 23 October he made the official proclamation that Hungary had removed the "People's Republic" from its constitutional name and was now the "Republic of Hungary.