Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Hungary's parliament elects Orban critic Andras Baka as president
Hungary is a country in Europe with a parliament that makes important decisions for the nation.
The parliament has chosen a new president, Andras Baka, who used to be the head of Hungary's highest court.
The job of president in Hungary is mostly ceremonial, meaning the president is an important symbol but does not run the government.
Baka is a well-known critic of Viktor Orban, the former prime minister.
In 2012, after Baka complained about a law that forced older judges to retire early, the government removed him from his job at the Supreme Court.
Later, the European Court of Human Rights decided that removing him was wrong.
Now, Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who wants to make Hungary's government fairer, helped choose Baka as president.
The opposition party, Fidesz, did not take part in the vote to show its disagreement.
Baka might also help write a new constitution for Hungary, which is another big change the government is planning.
Hungary's parliament elected Andras Baka, a former head of the Supreme Court and prominent critic of Viktor Orban, as the country's next president.
Baka won 140 votes in favour and six against, backed by the governing Tisza party's two-thirds majority in parliament.
Members of the opposition Fidesz party did not take part in the election.
The largely ceremonial appointment is a symbolic step in Prime Minister Peter Magyar's effort to dismantle former premier Viktor Orban's bastions of power.
Baka, removed as Supreme Court chief in 2012 after criticising an Orban-era judicial reform, may serve only part of the term while a new constitution is drafted.
- Who
- Andras Baka, former head of Hungary's Supreme Court and a prominent critic of Viktor Orban, elected by parliament with the backing of the governing Tisza party.
- What
- Baka was elected as Hungary's next president, a largely ceremonial role, with 140 votes in favour and six against.
- When
- Tuesday, Aug 11, 2026.
- Where
- Budapest, at Hungary's parliament.
- Why
- The election is a symbolic step in Prime Minister Peter Magyar's effort to dismantle former premier Viktor Orban's bastions of power and restore the rule of law.
Tisza government view
Fidesz opposition view
The presidential election
Tisza government view
The governing Tisza party voted for Andras Baka, presenting the election as a symbolic step in dismantling Viktor Orban's bastions of power and restoring the rule of law.
Fidesz opposition view
Members of the opposition Fidesz party did not take part in the election, signalling their refusal to participate in the process.
- New president
- Andras Baka
- Age
- 73
- Previous role
- Head of the Supreme Court
- Vote result
- 140 in favour, 6 against
- Supporting party
- Tisza party (governing, two-thirds majority)
- Non-participating party
- Fidesz (opposition)
- Prime Minister
- Peter Magyar
- Previous president
- Tamas Sulyok (removed last month)
