Hungary's Parliament Elects Orban Critic as New President
Hungary's parliament has overwhelmingly confirmed Andras Baka, formerly the head of the Supreme Court, to the largely ceremonial role of president.
Hungary's parliament has elected Andras Baka, a former head of the Supreme Court and staunch critic of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the country's new President. This move is part of Prime Minister Peter Magyar's efforts to undo the legacy of Orban's rule after winning the April general elections. Baka, who was removed from his Supreme Court role by Orban, will replace Tamas Sulyok, a president appointed by Orban whose term was shortened to remove him from the largely ceremonial position.
The appointment of Baka was a near-formal decision, as the conservative, pro-European TISZA party holds a vast majority in parliament. Orban's right-wing populist Fidesz party boycotted the vote, knowing they would not have the power to prevent Baka's installation. Baka, a jurist and politician, previously served at the European Court of Human Rights and was sidelined by Orban in 2011.
His appointment was seen by some as a move to restore Hungary to a path of rule of law and constitutional governance, though others raised concerns about the methods used.
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