Andrash Baka nominated by Tisa as Hungary's presidential candidate

Tisa's parliamentary group has chosen Andrash Baka, a former president of Hungary's Supreme Court and a long-serving judge at the European Court of Human Rights, as its nominee for the country's next president. The group says the decision was taken by secret ballot and describes it as one of its most important so far.

The new head of state is to be elected by the Hungarian parliament on Tuesday, August 11. The opposition party Mi Hazank nominated Mateó Toto, while Fides and KDNP will boycott the presidential vote in protest over the way Tamash Shujok was removed from office, and therefore will not put forward a candidate.

Why Tisa picked Baka

Tisa explained its choice by pointing to Baka's long legal career and his insistence during that career on judicial independence, the rule of law and separation of powers — qualities the party says are particularly important as Hungary prepares the foundations of a new constitutional arrangement.

Baka spent nearly two decades at the European Court of Human Rights (1991–2008) and was elected by the Hungarian parliament as president of the Supreme Court in 2009. Tisa describes him as an independent and impartial expert with the authority to represent national unity.

The decision followed internal competition: party leader Peter Magjar had earlier said the parliamentary group would choose among three candidates. Alongside Baka, the contenders were Botond Filep — known under the pseudonym "the 'Village Prosecutor'" — and the historian Ignjak Romshich. Filep gained wider public attention in connection with a pardon affair involving Endre K., while Romshich has in recent years openly criticised the country's direction, saying Hungary has turned into "an autocracy led by a single leader."

In the end, the group settled on Baka.

Baka's political and judicial biography is notable for his confrontation with the system established by Fides under Viktor Orban. He was serving as president of the Supreme Court in 2011 when changes to Hungary's constitutional and legal framework effectively terminated his mandate several years early; the official explanation cited a reorganisation of the judiciary and the establishment of the Curia to replace the previous Supreme Court, plus modified rules on the professional experience required for the post that excluded 17 years Baka had served abroad.

More significantly, Baka had been a critic of the government's judicial changes. He brought a case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg over his premature removal, and in 2016 the court found that Hungary had violated the European Convention on Human Rights. The ruling concluded his dismissal was linked to his criticism of the legislative changes and violated his right to freedom of expression. He was awarded compensation of about 31 million Hungarian forints at the time, and afterwards continued to serve as a judge on the Curia.

Photo: Fejsbuk Peter Magjar