Relevant because: Hungary elects it’s first non-orbánist president in 16 years, further dismantling the old illiberal regime.
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Translation: At its extraordinary session on Tuesday, the National Assembly elected András Baka, the former president of the Supreme Court and Tisza’s nominee, as president of the republic. The 73-year-old legal scholar was elected the next president of the republic in a secret ballot with 140 votes in favor, 6 against, and 0 abstentions.
Fidesz and the KDNP had previously announced that they would not participate in the election of the new head of state. Instead, members of their parliamentary caucus laid wreaths at the 1956 memorial in Tata.
The opposition criticized András Baka for two previous rulings he issued in cases dating back to 1956 and 2006. Bence Rétvári of the KDNP claimed on Facebook that András Baka, as a member of the European Court of Human Rights, had “acquitted” one of the defendants in the 1956 firing squad trials. László Toroczkai, president of Mi Hazánk, spoke in parliament about how Baka had refused to grant redress “to the victims of the 2006 political terror.”
Péter Magyar announced András Baka’s nomination on Saturday, and the legal scholar accepted the offer. This moment was preceded by lengthy wrangling and conflicts.
The Tisza government, elected in April, regarded Tamás Sulyok as a puppet and had already indicated during the election campaign that he could not remain in office. In his victory speech on April 12, Magyar also promised to hold him accountable and called on former President Tamás Sulyok to step down. The Tisza government had originally set May 31 as the final deadline by which Tamás Sulyok was supposed to resign.
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Relevant because: Hungary elects it’s first non-orbánist president in 16 years, further dismantling the old illiberal regime.
Translation: At its extraordinary session on Tuesday, the National Assembly elected András Baka, the former president of the Supreme Court and Tisza’s nominee, as president of the republic. The 73-year-old legal scholar was elected the next president of the republic in a secret ballot with 140 votes in favor, 6 against, and 0 abstentions.
Fidesz and the KDNP had previously announced that they would not participate in the election of the new head of state. Instead, members of their parliamentary caucus laid wreaths at the 1956 memorial in Tata.
The opposition criticized András Baka for two previous rulings he issued in cases dating back to 1956 and 2006. Bence Rétvári of the KDNP claimed on Facebook that András Baka, as a member of the European Court of Human Rights, had “acquitted” one of the defendants in the 1956 firing squad trials. László Toroczkai, president of Mi Hazánk, spoke in parliament about how Baka had refused to grant redress “to the victims of the 2006 political terror.”
Péter Magyar announced András Baka’s nomination on Saturday, and the legal scholar accepted the offer. This moment was preceded by lengthy wrangling and conflicts.
The Tisza government, elected in April, regarded Tamás Sulyok as a puppet and had already indicated during the election campaign that he could not remain in office. In his victory speech on April 12, Magyar also promised to hold him accountable and called on former President Tamás Sulyok to step down. The Tisza government had originally set May 31 as the final deadline by which Tamás Sulyok was supposed to resign.