István Hiller

István Hiller [ iʃtva ː ː n hil ɛr ] ( born May 7, 1964 in Sopron, Hungary) is a Hungarian historian and politician.

He studied at the Eotvos Lorand University in History and Latin. Since 1989 he teaches at his alma mater Medieval History. He was elected in 2001 to the best University Teacher of the Year. He became a lecturer in the same year.

He is since 1989 member of the MSZP (Magyar Szocialista Part, Socialist Party of Hungary ). Between 1999 and 2000 he was Vice- President of the Committee. In 2000 he was elected to the presidium. In 2003 he became vice-president of the party. After the disaster of the party in the European elections, he became the new party leader.

Hiller is a Member of Parliament since 2002. In the same year he was State Secretary in the Ministry of Education. In 2003 he was Minister of the cultural discount in the cabinet of Peter Medgyessy. He retained his post under Ferenc Gyurcsány. Hiller announced to evacuate on 14 February 2005 his ministerial position to prepare for the election campaign for the 2006 elections. From 9 June 2006 to 29 May 2010, he was Minister of Culture of the Hungarian Republic.

He is married and has two sons.

Awards

• 2004: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
• 2004: Great Cross of Merit with Star and Sash
• 2004: Ordre des Arts et des Lettres