Hungary's parliament on Tuesday elected former Supreme Court President András Baka as the country's new president
When a country standing at the crossroads between East and West chooses a new head of state, it is always more than just a change of office. Hungary, whose political life in recent years has been marked by fierce debates over the role of the judiciary and the independence of institutions, has elected as president a man whose own career has become a symbol of these contradictions. András Baka, a former judge of the European Court of Human Rights and former president of the Supreme Court, whose mandate was cut short by the judicial reforms of the Orbán government, now returns to the highest office. His election as the sole candidate from the ruling Tisza party raises questions about political neutrality, but Baka himself promises to represent both the majority and the minority, acknowledging differences rather than silencing them.
And in that promise lies hope that the presidential institution can become not a battlefield, but a space for dialogue. Baka, 73, the sole candidate, received 140 votes in a secret ballot. He was nominated by the ruling Tisza party, which holds the two thirds majority required to elect a president without opposition support. Baka will take office on 19 August. In his speech, Baka said his role as president would be to represent both the majority and the minority, to recognise political differences rather than impose artificial unity, and to uphold the constitutional system of checks and balances. He noted that Hungary's relations with a number of international allies have deteriorated in recent years, and that restoring those partnerships should be a key priority of his presidency.
Baka served as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights from 1991 to 2008, after which the Hungarian parliament elected him President of the Supreme Court in 2009. His six year term as Supreme Court President was cut short at the end of 2011 as a result of judicial reforms carried out by the government of then Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Tuesday's election followed former President Tamás Sulyok's signing of the 17th amendment to the country's constitution in late July, which effectively ended his term as head of state. After Sulyok's term expired on 20 July, parliamentary speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer became acting president.
Hungary's president is elected by parliament for a five year term and carries out constitutional duties, including signing legislation and representing the state. The president is also commander in chief of Hungary's armed forces. Baka's election comes at a time when Hungary continues to balance its commitments to the European Union with its desire to preserve national sovereignty.
His predecessor, Tamás Sulyok, left office after signing the 17th constitutional amendment, which drew criticism from the opposition and international observers who saw it as another step towards centralisation of power. Baka, who has international standing thanks to his work in Strasbourg, will now need to use his experience to restore confidence in the presidential institution both at home and abroad. His speech included a call for dialogue, but how far it will be heard amid deep political polarisation remains to be seen.
As CCTV+ reports, the election of András Baka as Hungary's president has become a significant event in the country's political life, and his five year term will be defined by his ability to balance the roles of arbiter and symbol of national unity amid deep ideological divisions.
