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Hungary parliament approves Orban-critic judge as president

Hungarian lawmakers on Tuesday approved former supreme court chief Andras Baka, a critic of Viktor Orban who was fired during the ex-premier’s time in power, as the country’s next head of state. The post became vacant following the contested removal last month of the previous president, an Orban ally, as pro-EU conservative Prime Minister Peter Magyar pushes to loosen his predecessor’s lingering…

Hungary parliament approves Orban-critic judge as president

On Tuesday, Hungarian lawmakers approved former supreme court chief Andras Baka as the country's next president, rejecting an exally ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a move to weaken the premier's grip on state institutions. Baka, who served for 17 years on the European Court of Human Rights, received 140 votes in favor and only six votes against.

This largely ceremonial role became vacant after the controversial removal of the previous president, Tamas Sulyok, who was dismissed by Orban's government during his reform push. Orban's Fidesz party boycotted the parliamentary vote, calling Sulyok's removal "tyrannical" and "illegitimate". The president's nomination by Prime Minister Peter Magyar aims to restore liberal democracy and signal a "clearly defined path" for this process.

Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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