Key facts
- Hungary's ruling Tisza party nominated Andras Baka, former head of the Supreme Court, for president.
- Baka is expected to be elected to the largely ceremonial role on Tuesday.
- The nomination is viewed as a symbolic move by Prime Minister Peter Magyar to dismantle former Premier Viktor Orban's power.
- The presidential election is scheduled for August 11.
- Former President Tamas Sulyok's mandate ended on July 20.
BUDAPEST, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Hungary's ruling Tisza party has nominated Andras Baka, a former head of the Supreme Court, as the country's next president. The party's parliamentary group announced the nomination on Facebook on Saturday.
Baka is anticipated to be elected to the largely ceremonial position on Tuesday. This move is seen as a symbolic step by Prime Minister Peter Magyar to dismantle the power strongholds established by former Premier Viktor Orban, with Magyar asserting he has received a strong mandate from voters to enact this political shift.
Earlier, the governing Tisza parliamentary group had proposed that parliament elect the new president on August 11. The group also suggested holding the vote during an extraordinary parliamentary session scheduled for August 10-11. Former President Tamas Sulyok's mandate concluded at midnight on July 20, and the Speaker of Parliament, Agnes Forsthoffer, is currently serving as acting president.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar had previously stated he met with Andras Baka, describing him as one of Hungary's most respected experts on European law and constitutional affairs. Baka, 73, previously served two terms as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights and continued as a senior judge at the Supreme Court after 2011. A presidential nominee requires the support of at least one-fifth of lawmakers, or 40 MPs, to be eligible for the ballot.