András Baka elected Hungary’s president in move to restore rule of law

Baka, a former president of the Supreme Court, brings a history of confrontation with the ruling establishment. In 2011, the Fidesz government prematurely removed him from his leadership role under the guise of judicial reform. Baka successfully challenged this dismissal at the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in 2016 that Hungarian authorities had violated his right to freedom of expression. His new term will last until a new constitution is adopted, capped at five years.

The path to this appointment followed a turbulent period for the Tisza party. Prime Minister Péter Magyar initially faced internal backlash after prematurely proposing chess grandmaster Judit Polgár for the role, a move that lacked party consultation and drew criticism from those demanding a legal expert. Following Polgár’s withdrawal, the party pivoted to a more measured vetting process, holding meetings with figures like historian Ignác Romsics and lawyer Botond Fülöp before settling on Baka.

Choosing Baka signals a departure from purely tactical political appointments. While Baka supports the party’s stated goal of regime change, his professional record suggests he will act as a genuine counterweight to the executive rather than a rubber stamp. Analysts note that while Baka offers the institutional gravitas required to restore judicial independence, he is unlikely to overshadow the political prominence of Magyar, potentially stabilizing the party’s leadership structure.