The newly inaugurated President of Hungary, András Baka, has taken the oath of office and outlined the government’s future plans.
András Baka / © screenshot from video
On Tuesday, August 11th, the Hungarian parliament endorsed the candidacy of former Supreme Court judge András Baka for the position of the country’s president. 140 deputies voted in favor, while six opposed the nomination.
This information was reported by Bloomberg.
Parliamentary Vote and Appointment of András Baka
It is reported that this decision is backed by the governing party of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, which holds more than a two-thirds majority. Concurrently, legislators from former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s party abstained entirely from the voting process.
It is noted that András Baka previously served as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights and subsequently headed the Supreme Court of Hungary. However, in early 2012, Viktor Orbán prematurely removed him from this position. As president, Baka has replaced Tamás Sulyok, who was appointed during the previous administration and was compelled to resign last month under pressure from the new government.
Rationale Behind the New Government’s Presidential Change and Head of State’s Powers
The publication indicated that Sulyok’s dismissal is another move by the new administration to remove Orbán’s appointees from state positions. Prime Minister Péter Magyar pressured his predecessor to step down, fearing that Sulyok would impede crucial legislation. These laws are necessary for the European Union to release billions of euros in aid to Hungary.
Although the Hungarian president possesses limited executive authority, the head of state retains significant leverage. They can postpone signing laws or refer them for review by the Constitutional Court.
In his inaugural address, the new president, András Baka, pledged to contribute to the restoration of the rule of law and ensure that the government does not regain unchecked powers.
“The significance of this task has become particularly evident following the experiences of recent years. Hungary has developed a system where a political party has seized the state and its institutions,” he emphasized.
Expert Opinions on the Country’s Changes
It is reported that András Baka’s election carries significant symbolic weight for Hungarian assets, which have seen growth amidst the political shifts. According to Commerzbank AG economist Tatha Ghoshe, this event coincides with other measures by Magyar aimed at ousting Orbán’s allies from their posts. However, a complete transition away from the Orbán regime will take considerable time.
“While the electoral mandate may be strong, the state apparatus remains heavily influenced by the previous regime, and reversing established policies will require time,” the economist remarked.
As a reminder, Hungary has delayed the opening of two more negotiating chapters in the context of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, despite the change in government and Kyiv’s completion of all formal procedures.
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