Hungary's parliament has overwhelmingly elected András Baka, a former head of the Supreme Court, as the country's next president. The position is largely ceremonial.
The appointment serves as a symbolic and key step in Prime Minister Peter Magyar's effort to dismantle the political legacy and power structures left by former premier Viktor Orbán. Baka replaces Orban appointee Tamas Sulyok, whose mandate was cut short by a recent constitutional amendment and who was ousted weeks ago during Tisza’s campaign against Orban-era power structures.
Baka had previously been ousted from the Supreme Court when Viktor Orban reduced the age limit. Outside of a brief stint as a lawmaker elected from the conservative Hungarian Democratic Forum's party list in 1990 following the democratic transition, Baka has not held any other political positions.