Imre Szabó

Imre Szabó (born 1 April 1953) is a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Environment and Water between 2008 and 2010. He was also a member of the National Assembly (MP) from 1998 to 2014.

Youth and sports movements Szabó was born in Esztergom on 1 April 1953. He finished his secondary studies at the Dobó Katalin Secondary Grammar School at his birthplace in 1971. After graduating from the Teacher Training College in 1977, he obtained a degree in physical education at the Gyula Juhász Teacher Training College in Szeged, and at the same time a degree in football coaching at the College of Physical Education. He worked as a primary school teacher in Sárisáp and Tokodaltáró between 1975 and 1980, then as a physical education teacher and football coach in Szentendre between 1980 and 1983. He was also involved in the local pioneer movement.

Political career During the transition to democracy in 1989–90, Szabó was an organizer of the National Council of Hungarian Youth Organizations (MISZOT). He joined the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) in 1992. He presided the party's local branch in Szentendre between 1994 and 1995. He was elected to the local representative body of Szentendre in the 1994 municipal elections. He became chairman of his party's Pest County branch in 1995. He retained this position until 2008. He was the head of the environmental department of the MSZP between 1996 and 2002. His marriages produced altogether six children. One of his sons, the fifteen-year-old Barnabás died in a car accident in Szentendre on 11 August 2008.