András Baka Selected as Presidential Candidate by Ruling Party

WHO:

euronews.com - András Baka, an internationally recognized legal scholar and former head of the Supreme Court of Hungary.

NBC News - Prime Minister Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party.

NBC News - The opposition Fidesz party.

WHAT:

euronews.com - The Tisza party nominated András Baka for the presidency of Hungary.

NBC News - Baka is expected to be elected to the largely ceremonial position by parliament.

NBC News - The new president will stay in office until a new constitution takes effect, or for a maximum of five years.

NBC News - Baka was removed from his position as head of the Supreme Court by Orbán’s government in 2011.

NBC News - The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2014 that Hungary had sacked Baka for criticism of the government.

WHERE:

euronews.com - Hungary.

NBC News - Strasbourg, where the European Court of Human Rights is located.

WHEN:

NBC News - Baka served as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights from 1991 to 2008.

NBC News - Baka was elected president of the Supreme Court in 2009.

NBC News - The parliamentary group announced the nomination on a Saturday.

WHY:

NBC News - Prime Minister Péter Magyar aims to dismantle former premier Viktor Orbán’s bastions of power following a landslide victory in April elections.

NBC News - Tisza lawmakers believe Baka's experience and professional independence are significant assets for laying the foundations for Hungary’s new constitutional order.

HOW:

euronews.com - The Tisza party plans to adopt a new constitution within the parliamentary term and may consider direct presidential elections.

NBC News - The Tisza party's parliamentary group made the nomination via a Facebook announcement.

(UPDATED August 8, 2026 23:19 UTC)

The Tisza party has nominated András Baka, an internationally recognized legal scholar and former head of Hungary's Supreme Court, for the presidency of Hungary, with expectations that he will be elected by parliament to this largely ceremonial role. Prime Minister Péter Magyar is working to dismantle the power structures established by former premier Viktor Orbán, and Tisza lawmakers believe Baka's experience will be crucial in shaping Hungary's new constitutional order. The Tisza party plans to adopt a new constitution during the parliamentary term and is considering the possibility of direct presidential elections.