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Hungary lawmakers approve Orban critic Andras Baka as president

Parliament elected Baka with 140 votes in favour and six against, after the previous president Tamas Sulyok had his mandate cut short by a constitutional amendment.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Europe

Hungarian lawmakers approved Andras Baka, a former supreme court chief and critic of Viktor Orban, as the country’s next head of state, according to SCMP Economy. The move fills a vacant presidential post created after the contested removal of the prior president last month.

The election took place in parliament where the ruling Tisza party holds a two-thirds majority, and Baka was chosen with 140 votes in favour and six votes against. Baka previously served 17 years as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights, the outlet reported.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Baka’s record reflects commitment to democratic rule of law and constitutional principles as Hungary looks to be guided back onto that path. Magyar’s broader reform push includes efforts to loosen a predecessor’s lingering influence over state institutions, SCMP Economy added.

SCMP Economy said the previous president, Tamas Sulyok, saw his term cut short by a constitutional amendment adopted as part of Magyar’s reforms.

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