Magyar’s Tisza Party Nominates Former Supreme Court Chief Andras Baka for President

Hungary’s ruling Tisza party has nominated 73-year-old former Supreme Court president Andras Baka for the presidency, with a parliamentary vote scheduled for Tuesday, August 11.

Presidential Nomination and Vote

The parliamentary club of Hungary’s ruling Tisza party, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, announced on Saturday that Andras Baka has been selected as its presidential candidate. The National Assembly is scheduled to vote on electing the new head of state on Tuesday, August 11.

Background of the Candidate

Andras Baka is a 73-year-old former judge of the European Court of Human Rights and former president of the Hungarian Supreme Court. In 2012, he was removed from his position as Supreme Court president following institutional reforms implemented by the government of Viktor Orban.

Parliamentary Majority and Boycott

The election of a new head of state became necessary following the removal of Tamas Sulyok in July under a recent constitutional amendment. The Tisza party holds 141 of the 199 parliamentary seats, securing the required two-thirds majority to independently elect the president. The opposition Fidesz party, the only other political group with enough deputies to nominate a candidate, announced it will boycott Tuesday’s vote, arguing that the dismissal of the previous president was unlawful.