Revenge on Orbán: Judge Ousted from Supreme Court in Judicial Overhaul Elected President

The Hungarian parliament elected András Baka, former president of the Supreme Court who was removed in 2012, as the country's president with 140 votes in favor, six against, and zero abstentions. The move, initiated by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, is seen as doing justice to Baka and as a symbolic step to erase Orbán's legacy. Fidesz boycotted the vote, and Baka urged against acting out of revenge.

The Hungarian parliament elected András Baka, former president of the Supreme Court, as the country's president this afternoon (Tuesday) with 140 votes in favor, six against, and zero abstentions. The move, initiated by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, is seen as a symbolic step to erase the legacy of Viktor Orbán and as doing justice to Baka, who was removed in 2012 after criticizing Orbán's judicial reforms. Baka petitioned the European Court of Human Rights and won, with the court recognizing the political nature of his removal. Orbán's Fidesz party boycotted the vote, protesting the removal of the previous president, Tamás Sulyok, whom Magyar called "Orbán's puppet." In his inaugural speech, Baka urged against acting out of revenge: "This country cannot build a common future when its citizens see each other as enemies." Magyar and his associates view the appointment as doing justice to the man who dared to "say no" to Orbán. Baka, 73, is expected to serve only part of his term, until the completion of the constitutional rewrite, which is planned to take between one and a half years.