Hungary's parliament set to elect András Baka as next president

Published Aug 11, 02:00 AM UTC

Hungary's parliament is set to elect jurist András Baka as the next president in a secret ballot, with the Tisza party's 71% supermajority ensuring his victory. Baka, 73, will assume office on August 19, filling the vacancy left by Tamás Sulyok's ouster via a constitutional amendment. The appointment carries historical irony: Baka was removed from the Supreme Court presidency in 2011 by Viktor Orbán's Fidesz government through a similar legal maneuver, which he then denounced as appalling. Now, he calls the same tactic 'state liberation.' Baka's legacy is divisive due to his judicial roles in the 1956 Revolution and 2006 police brutality cases. His selection was criticized as non-transparent, contradicting Tisza's promises of public debate. Baka has already clashed with Prime Minister Péter Magyar over a 12-year term limit for MPs, signaling he will not be a rubber stamp. His presidency is expected to be transitional, lasting until a new constitution is adopted or up to five years.