Former Chief Justice of Hungary Runs for President

Hungary's Tisza party nominated former Supreme Court chief justice Andras Baca as its presidential candidate on August 8, Deutsche Welle reported.

Baca, 73, was removed from office in 2012 for opposing the lowering of the retirement age for judges from 70 to 62 under Viktor Orban's government. At the time, he called the move a "cleansing" of the judiciary. The European Union and the United States have argued that lowering the retirement age for judges is unconstitutional. In 2016, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in Baca's favor.

**Baca's candidacy**

According to Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, the faction's representatives informed Baca of their decision and invited him to run for president.

“Baka accepted the offer out of a desire to serve the nation. He is ready to work for the unity of the Hungarian people and the prosperity of a democratic, European Hungary,” Magyar said.

He had previously offered the presidency to Hungarian chess legend Judit Polgár, but she refused. After that, the Tisza deputies drew up a list of ten more candidates. As a result, Baka was chosen by secret ballot.

**Presidential change**

The previous Hungarian president, Tamás Szújók, ended his term early on July 19 by amending the constitution. Although he had publicly stated that he did not agree with the parliament’s decision to amend the constitution, he signed the amendment himself. Szújók explained this by his responsibility to uphold the constitution and the law. The Hungarian parliament is expected to appoint a new president on August 11.