The Ruling Tisa Party Has Selected A New Candidate For The Hungarian Presidency
- 9.08.2026, 10:50
What is this politician known for?
Hungary’s ruling party, “Tisa,” has selected its candidate for the country’s presidency. The candidate is lawyer and former Supreme Court President András Baka. His nomination is set to be approved by a vote in the National Assembly on August 11; however, given the composition of parliament, his election is virtually guaranteed.
This was reported in Facebook by Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar. According to him, he met with Baka in person, after which Baka agreed to run for president.
“We personally informed Dr. András Baka of the Tisza faction’s decision and, at the same time, asked him to accept the invitation to serve as President of the Republic. ‘The President has accepted the invitation to serve the nation and is ready to work for the unity of the Hungarian nation and for a democratic, European Hungarian Republic,’ the Prime Minister’s statement reads.
The presidential nominee must receive the support of at least two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly to be confirmed. The “Tisza” Party holds 141 of the 199 seats in parliament, so Baka’s nomination is likely to be approved.
What Is Known About András Baka
András Baka is a lawyer and judge who served at the European Court of Human Rights from 1991 to 2008. In 2009, he was appointed president of the Hungarian Supreme Court for a six-year term.
During the 2011 constitutional reform, the position of President of the Supreme Court was abolished, and Baka’s term was terminated early in 2012. Baka himself stated that this was due to his public criticism of the judicial reform pushed by Viktor Orbán’s government.
The European Court of Human Rights found a violation of his right to freedom of expression and his right to a fair trial. The Court also recognized that the reform was adopted specifically to remove Baka from office as a critic of Orbán.
It should be noted that in Hungary, the president is formally the head of state, but major political decisions are made by the government, led by the prime minister.
The office of president is primarily ceremonial. At the same time, the head of state has the authority to introduce bills, sign or veto enacted laws, and dissolve the National Assembly.