Former judge removed by Orbán elected Hungarian president

Hungary's parliament has elected 73-year-old András Baka, a respected judge and former head of the Supreme Court, as Hungary's new president. The largely ceremonial role of president is set to be a contentious one, as Baka's mandate includes overseeing Prime Minister Péter Magyar's efforts to dismantle the economic and political system established by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Baka was elected by 140 votes to 6, with all 51 MPs from Orbán's party Fidesz walking out in protest against the ousting of their preferred candidate, Tamás Sulyok.

In his election speech, Baka emphasized the need for a "broadest possible debate" on the creation of a new constitution, promising to push back against the Hungarian tendency towards trusting powerful leaders. He reiterated his commitment to the principles of democracy and the rule of law, stating that "the state is not there for itself; it is there for the people."

Since taking office in early May, Baka's predecessor, Viktor Orbán, has passed 27 laws and made two amendments to the constitution, including limiting the prime minister to two terms and MPs to three. Orbán's government also abolished the Sovereignty Protection Office, which was used to target critical journalists and NGOs, and established a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office with sweeping powers to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of stealing state funds under the former administration.

Baka, who served for 17 years as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, has made it clear that he opposes the limit on MPs' terms as an intrusion on voters' right to choose their representatives. As a transitional president, Baka is expected to serve only until the new constitution comes into force, or for a maximum of five years.