Hungary's ruling Tisza Party nominates former supreme court chief András Baka for president

Hungary's ruling Tisza party has nominated András Baka, a 73-year-old former Supreme Court chief, as its candidate for president. Baka was famously ousted from his judicial post early in 2011 by Viktor Orbán's government, making his nomination a highly symbolic move by Prime Minister Péter Magyar to dismantle Orbán's legacy. Backed by Tisza's two-thirds parliamentary majority, Baka is expected to easily win the vote on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, despite a boycott by the opposition Fidesz party.

András Baka presidential nomination

• ▪András Baka accepted the Tisza party's presidential nomination to serve the nation and work for a democratic, European Hungary.
• ▪Hungary's ruling Tisza party nominated former Supreme Court chief András Baka as its candidate for president on August 8, 2026.

Former Supreme Court president

• ▪The Tisza party's parliamentary group selected András Baka, 73, in a secret ballot from a three-person shortlist.
• ▪András Baka served as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights from 1991 to 2008 before being elected president of Hungary's Supreme Court in 2009.

2011 early mandate termination

• ▪András Baka's mandate as Supreme Court president was terminated early in 2011 following judicial reforms introduced by Viktor Orbán's Fidesz government.
• ▪The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2014 that Hungary violated András Baka's rights by removing him for criticizing the government.

Dismantling Orbán-era institutions

• ▪Former President Tamás Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment ending his own presidency last month following public pressure from Péter Magyar.
• ▪Prime Minister Péter Magyar nominated András Baka as part of an effort to dismantle former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's bastions of power.

Tisza Party parliamentary majority

• ▪The opposition Fidesz party announced it would boycott the presidential election, accusing the Tisza party of authoritarian policies.
• ▪The Tisza party holds a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, controlling 141 of the 199 parliamentary seats.

Tuesday presidential election vote

• ▪Hungary's parliament is scheduled to vote on András Baka's presidential candidacy on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
• ▪The Hungarian president is elected by parliament for a five-year term and holds a largely ceremonial role with limited veto powers.