Hungary elects supreme court judge ousted by Orban as new president
Summary
Hungary’s parliament has chosen Andras Baka, a former Supreme Court chief judge who criticized Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the country’s new president. Baka will start his job on August 19, replacing the previous president who was removed by changes made by the current governing party, Tisza.Key Facts
- Andras Baka was confirmed as Hungary’s president with 140 votes in favor and 6 against.
- Baka was nominated by the Tisza party, which has more than two-thirds of the seats in parliament.
- The opposition party Fidesz, led by Viktor Orban, boycotted the vote.
- Baka served as a judge on the European Court of Human Rights and led Hungary’s Supreme Court before being removed in 2011 for criticizing Orban’s reforms.
- The previous president, Tamas Sulyok, was removed recently through a constitutional amendment.
- The Tisza party has been making several changes, including media reforms, creating an anticorruption team, and limiting the prime minister’s term to eight years.
- Hungary’s president mostly has ceremonial duties with limited power over laws.
- Baka’s appointment is seen as a sign of moving away from Orban’s political influence.
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