Hungary Installs Controversial Former Justice as President Amid Risky Overhaul by New Government
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Hungary’s parliament has selected András Baka, a former Supreme Court chief ousted for opposing Viktor Orbán’s reforms, as president. Prime Minister Péter Magyar pushes radical constitutional changes, raising concerns about stability and the erasure of conservative achievements.
Budapest – In a move that has alarmed many defenders of Hungary’s traditional values, parliament voted Tuesday to install András Baka, the former head of the country’s highest court, as the new president. Baka, who was removed from the judiciary in 2011 after publicly attacking Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s much-needed judicial reforms, will serve in a largely ceremonial role. However, his appointment is seen by many as a symbolic victory for those seeking to reverse the conservative policies that restored order and sovereignty to Hungary.
This election comes after 45-year-old Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s narrow victory over Orbán four months ago, which has emboldened left-liberal forces. Since taking office, Magyar has aggressively pursued measures to dismantle the successful “illiberal” system that protected Hungary’s national interests. He has rushed to secure the release of €16 billion in EU-frozen funds—funds withheld as political leverage by Brussels—and set up an office to hunt for assets allegedly misappropriated by the previous government, a move critics say is a witch hunt against political opponents. Magyar has also dissolved several state-linked foundations that supported Hungarian culture and identity.
In September, Magyar announced a sweeping constitutional consultation, aiming to replace the 2011 constitution that was a cornerstone of Orbán’s efforts to safeguard Hungary’s sovereignty and Christian values. Critics of Magyar’s plan warn that the new constitution, to be approved by referendum, could strip away the protections that kept power in the hands of the people and out of the grasp of foreign interests and left-wing elites.
The transition included the forced removal of incumbent president Tamás Sulyok, a respected figure. After Sulyok refused to resign, parliament rammed through a constitutional amendment lowering the retirement age for judges, cynically linking it to Sulyok’s ouster. The amendment also imposed a twelve-year term limit for parliamentary members, a move that could purge experienced leaders from the former ruling party and weaken conservative representation.
Baka, who previously served on the European Court of Human Rights—a body often at odds with national sovereignty—addressed parliament after his election, calling for a constitution shaped by public and expert debate. His rhetoric echoes the talking points of those who seek to undermine Hungary’s traditional values.
These developments unfold as Hungary faces the challenge of preserving its national identity amid efforts to erase the legacy of Orbán’s constitutional reforms. Analysts warn that the continued presence of Orbán’s loyalists in key offices may be the last line of defense against a radical overhaul that threatens Hungary’s hard-won stability and conservative achievements.