Hungary Confirms Andras Baka as President in 140-6 Vote, Deepening Orban Rollback
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 11
Hungary Confirms Andras Baka as President in 140-6 Vote, Deepening Orban Rollback
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 11
Summary
Hungary’s parliament confirmed Andras Baka as president in a secret ballot, backing the former Supreme Court chief by 140 votes to 6; he takes office on August 19.
Tisza, which holds a more than two-thirds majority, nominated Baka to help lay a “new constitutional order” after ousting ex-President Tamas Sulyok, an Orban appointee, by constitutional amendment weeks ago.
Fidesz boycotted the vote and accused Tisza of authoritarian tactics, while Tisza said Baka’s judicial experience would strengthen its institutional overhaul.
Baka, 73, led Hungary’s Supreme Court from 2009 until his 2011 removal after criticizing Viktor Orban’s reforms as a threat to judicial independence.
The largely ceremonial presidency is the latest symbol of Tisza’s broader drive to dismantle Orban-era structures, alongside media changes, an anti-corruption task force and an 8-year prime ministerial term limit.