Hungary’s National Assembly has officially elected Andras Baka, the former chief of the Supreme Court, as the nation's new president. Baka secured his position on Tuesday after receiving 140 votes, which established a clear majority within the assembly.
The transition follows the departure of former President Tamas Sulyok, who resigned in July after signing a constitutional amendment that ended his term. His exit came amid mounting pressure from Prime Minister Peter Magyar and the parliament. During his election campaign, Magyar—whose Tisza Party currently holds a two-thirds majority in parliament—had publicly pledged to replace Sulyok and advocate for the introduction of direct presidential elections.
Baka, who previously led the Supreme Court, had been removed from his post by the Fidesz government in 2011 during the abolition of the Supreme Court. Following his recent election victory, Prime Minister Magyar has repeatedly urged Sulyok and several other high-ranking officials linked to the previous administration to step down from their roles.
