Hungary nominates former Supreme Court chief Andras Baka for presidency | Civil Rights News
Tisza Party Nominates Andras Baka for Hungarian Presidency
Hungary’s governing Tisza party has officially nominated Andras Baka, a former chief justice of the Supreme Court, as its candidate for the presidency. Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced the nomination on Saturday. Baka was removed from his position by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government in 2012, amid ongoing concerns about judicial independence.
This nomination is part of Tisza’s effort to reduce Orban’s influence over state institutions following the party’s decisive win in April, which ended Orban’s 16-year leadership.
The decision comes just weeks after Tisza utilized a constitutional amendment to remove former President Tamas Sulyok, who was appointed during the Orban administration. Baka, 73, is expected to be elected by parliament on Tuesday, where Tisza holds a constitutional majority.
Magyar stated in a Facebook post that the nomination, conducted via secret ballot within the party’s parliamentary group, represents “one of its most important decisions so far.”
Tisza lawmakers emphasized Baka’s commitment to the separation of powers, highlighting his dedication to the rule of law and judicial independence. They believe his experience will be vital as the party seeks to establish a new constitutional framework in Hungary.
The opposition party, Fidesz, has announced it will boycott the upcoming vote, citing concerns over alleged authoritarian practices by Tisza, which the ruling party has denied.
Baka previously served two terms as a judge on the European Court of Human Rights before becoming the head of Hungary’s Supreme Court in 2009. He was removed from that position two years later after publicly criticizing government reforms that he argued undermined judicial independence. A ruling by the European court later found that his dismissal violated his rights to a fair trial and freedom of expression, a determination the Council of Europe stated Hungary has not fully implemented.
While the presidency in Hungary is largely ceremonial, Baka’s nomination is viewed as a significant symbolic move in the political landscape.
