Hungary elects former supreme court judge ousted by Orbán as president

Aug 11, 2026

Hungary's parliament has elected Andras Baka, a former Supreme Court chief ousted by Viktor Orban in 2011, as the country's new president in a 140-6 vote boycotted by the opposition Fidesz party. Backed by Prime Minister Peter Magyar's ruling Tisza party, Baka's election to the ceremonial role is a key milestone in efforts to dismantle Orban's legacy. Baka has promised to oversee the drafting of a new constitution and warned against building the new Hungary on revenge.

Baka presidential election

▪The opposition Fidesz party boycotted the presidential vote and accused the ruling Tisza party of using authoritarian tactics to reshape Hungary's political system.
▪Andras Baka was elected as president in a secret parliamentary ballot with 140 votes in favor, six opposing, and no abstentions.
▪Hungary's parliament elected Andras Baka, a 73-year-old former Supreme Court chief, as the country's next president on August 11, 2026.
▪Andras Baka will assume the Hungarian presidency on August 19, 2026, replacing former President Tamas Sulyok, an Orban appointee who was ousted by constitutional amendment.
▪Andras Baka was nominated for the presidency on August 8, 2026 by the ruling Tisza party, which holds a constitutional two-thirds majority in parliament.

Orbán-era dismantling reforms

▪Constitutional Amendments 16 and 17 limited the Hungarian prime minister to two terms in office and MPs to three terms, while restoring the Constitutional Court's oversight powers.
▪Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Tisza government has passed 27 laws and two constitutional amendments since taking office in early May 2026 to dismantle Viktor Orban's legacy.
▪The Hungarian parliament abolished the Sovereignty Protection Office and established a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of stealing state funds.
▪The Hungarian parliament cancelled states of emergency related to migrants, Covid, and the war in Ukraine, which former Prime Minister Viktor Orban had used to govern by decree.

Baka Supreme Court removal

▪Andras Baka served as a judge on the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for 17 years before being elected head of Hungary's Supreme Court in 2009.
▪Andras Baka was removed from his post as head of Hungary's Supreme Court in 2011 after publicly criticising Viktor Orban's government reforms.

New constitution drafting process

▪In a BBC interview prior to his nomination, Andras Baka expressed opposition to limiting MPs' terms, calling it an intrusion on voters' rights to freely choose representatives.
▪Andras Baka's presidential mandate is expected to be transitional, lasting until a new constitution comes into force or for a maximum of five years.
▪Andras Baka promised the broadest possible debate on the creation of a new constitution to replace Viktor Orban's 2011 constitution.

Presidential ceremonial role

▪Andras Baka stated that the Hungarian president's role is to represent citizens who hold differing views and that the task of building a new future demands justice and self-restraint.
▪The Hungarian presidency is a largely ceremonial and figurehead role with limited authority to veto or refer legislation.

Judicial independence criticism

▪Andras Baka stated in 2011 that Viktor Orban's government reforms threatened judicial independence, which led to his removal from the Supreme Court.
▪In his post-election speech, Andras Baka criticised Viktor Orban's rule, stating that one party had captured the state and that there was no functioning system of checks and balances.