Hungary parliament elects Andras Baka as new president
Hungary's parliament has confirmed Andras Baka as the country's next president in a secret ballot, marking another significant change under the new political leadership in Budapest. The National Assembly voted on Tuesday to approve the former Supreme Court chief, who was nominated by the Tisza party. He is due to take office on August 19.
Sponsored
Lawmakers backed Baka by 140 votes to six, with no abstentions, according to the parliamentary result. Fidesz, the party that dominated Hungarian politics until its defeat in April, boycotted the vote. Tisza lawmakers said Baka's experience would be an important asset as they lay the foundations for what they describe as a new constitutional order.
Baka, 73, previously served two terms as a judge on the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg before becoming head of Hungary's Supreme Court in 2009. He was removed two years later after publicly criticising reforms introduced by Viktor Orban's government, which he said threatened judicial independence. His election therefore carries symbolic weight as well as institutional significance, given his earlier clash with the former administration.
The presidency in Hungary is largely ceremonial, with limited powers to veto or refer legislation. Even so, the appointment is being viewed as part of a broader effort by Tisza to dismantle the political structures built during Orban's 16 years in power. The party has already used its parliamentary majority to reform the media, establish an anti-corruption task force and impose an eight-year term limit on the prime ministership, a move that would bar Orban from returning to the office.
Sponsored
Baka replaces Tamas Sulyok, an Orban appointee who was removed from the role weeks ago through a constitutional amendment. That change formed part of a wider political reset after Tisza's rise and Fidesz's electoral defeat. The vote also underlines how quickly the balance of power has shifted in a country where constitutional and institutional changes are now being used to reshape the state.
What remains unclear is how far the new leadership will go in revising Hungary's constitutional framework and how Fidesz will respond outside parliament. The presidency's limited formal powers mean the practical impact may be modest, but the political message is substantial. Baka's inauguration on August 19 will be the next key moment to watch.
Sponsored
