Hungary elects Andras Baka as president in political shift away from Orban

Tuesday 11 August 2026 - 14:45

By: Sahili Aya

Hungary elects Andras Baka as president in political shift away from Orban

Hungary’s Parliament has elected Andras Baka as the country’s new president, bringing a former senior judicial figure who was removed from office during Viktor Orban’s tenure back to the center of national politics.

Baka, a former president of Hungary’s Supreme Court, secured the presidency in a vote held Tuesday in Parliament. His election comes as the country’s political landscape undergoes a major transformation following the rise of the pro-European Tisza party.

Baka wins decisive parliamentary vote

The new president was elected with 140 votes in favour, six against and no abstentions.

Tisza currently holds a two-thirds majority in Parliament, giving the governing party a dominant position in the legislature and ensuring a comfortable margin for Baka’s election.

Following the vote, Baka took the presidential oath in Parliament in Budapest, formally beginning his term as head of state.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar was pictured congratulating the newly elected president after the ceremony.

A former Supreme Court president returns to public life

Baka brings a substantial judicial background to the presidency. He previously served as president of Hungary’s Supreme Court before being dismissed during Orban’s period in power.

His return to a senior constitutional position therefore carries particular political significance.

Rather than coming from the traditional political establishment associated with Orban’s long period of dominance, Baka has emerged within a new political environment shaped by Tisza and its pro-European orientation.

A new political era for Hungary

The election reflects the broader changes taking place in Hungarian politics.

For years, Orban and his Fidesz party dominated the country’s political system. The emergence of Tisza, led by Peter Magyar, has fundamentally altered that balance and introduced a new pro-European force into government.

Baka’s election as president takes place against this backdrop of political transition.

Although the Hungarian presidency has more limited executive powers than the office of prime minister, the head of state plays an important constitutional and institutional role. The choice of a former senior judge could therefore give the presidency a stronger legal and institutional profile.

A symbolic break with the Orban years

Baka’s previous dismissal under Orban adds another dimension to his new position.

His election represents a striking reversal for a figure who had previously been pushed out of one of Hungary’s highest judicial offices. His return now takes place under a parliamentary majority aligned with a political movement seeking to redefine Hungary’s relationship with the European Union and its domestic political institutions.

The transition will be closely watched as Tisza consolidates its power and the country enters a new phase after years of Orban-led politics.

For Baka, the immediate challenge will be to establish his authority as head of state while navigating the institutional and political changes reshaping Hungary.