Hungary’s parliament has elected András Baka, 73, a respected former head of the Supreme Court, to the largely ceremonial presidential post.
Baka’s election signals an envisioned reversal of Viktor Orbán’s political legacy. The new head of state will be tasked with overseeing the drafting of a new constitution and limiting the Prime Minister to two parliamentary terms.
A record 27 laws and two constitutional amendments have already been enacted since the new government took office, canceling the emergency powers used by Fidesz and abolishing the Sedex office that had monitored critical voices.
The Fidesz opposition walked out of the chamber in protest after the ousting of Tamás Sulyok, reflecting lingering divisions.
In parliamentary speech Baka promised the widest possible debate around the new constitution, stating that “the state is not for itself but for the people.”
Despite his non‑political image, Baka acknowledges that the current shift may restrict MPs’ term limits, an issue he viewed as an intrusion on voters’ choices.
With a tenure limited to five years or until the constitution comes into force, Baka’s role is meant to be transitional.
The new president’s stance signals a stronger counter‑balance to the entrenched power structures that were dominant under Orbán.
