Revenge on Orban: The judge ousted from the Supreme Court during the judicial revolution is elected president
Peter Magyar's liberal reform in Hungary continues: 14 years after the Orban government forced Andras Baka to resign as President of the Supreme Court amid his criticism of the PM's reforms, the parliament has elected him as President of the country. In his inauguration speech, he called not to act out of revenge: "We have no common future if we see each other as enemies."
The Hungarian parliament elected former Supreme Court President Andras Baka as President of the country this afternoon, Tuesday, in a symbolic step signaling the new government of Peter Magyar's attempt to erase the legacy of Viktor Orban. The move is seen as an attempt to do justice to the former Supreme Court President, who was ousted at the time by Orban amid the criticism he leveled at the Prime Minister's judicial revolution.
The legislature approved Baka's appointment by a majority of 140 supporters, six opponents, and zero abstentions, taking advantage of the absolute two-thirds majority enjoyed by Magyar's pro-European center-right "Tisza" party. Orban's "Fidesz" party, which was defeated in the April elections after 16 years in power, boycotted the vote in protest of the fact that the Magyar government forced the previous president Tamas Sulyok, whom Magyar described as "Orban's puppet," to resign.
Since taking office in May, Magyar has been working to dismantle what he calls Orban's "mafia" by canceling political appointments and dismissing heads of institutions. The government has also suspended state news services and closed the Sovereignty Protection Office. In response, "Fidesz" declared the vote "illegal."
Restoring Justice
Baka was effectively ousted from his position as President of the Supreme Court in 2012, three years before the planned end of his term, after the government lowered the retirement age for judges. Baka described it at the time as a "purge in disguise" and appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, which later recognized the political nature of the ousting.
In his remarks to parliament, Baka criticized the functioning of Orban's four consecutive governments, stating that the deep social and political polarization created during the former leader's 16 years in power is one of the greatest challenges facing Hungary. He added that political change should not be done out of revenge:
"This country cannot build a common future when its citizens see each other as enemies. Political change should not mean that from today onwards people will be forced to fear, be silent, or feel like strangers in their own country."
