András Baka elected as Hungary's new president

The Hungarian parliament has elected András Baka as the new president of the country. This election took place on Tuesday and was approved with 140 votes in favor. Baka, who is 73 years old, served as the president of the Hungarian Supreme Court from 2009 to 2011 until he was dismissed by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán through a legislative change.

Baka's appointment stems from an effort by current Prime Minister Peter Magyar to reduce Orbán's and his party Fidesz's influence over state institutions. Baka is a vocal critic of Orbán's policies and practices.

The presidency became vacant following the controversial removal of the previous president, who was an ally of Orbán. This has led to some political unrest within the country. The parliament, where the ruling Tisza party holds a two-thirds majority, has now opted for a different path.

According to reports, Prime Minister Magyar hopes to end the attention that has arisen around the presidency with Baka's appointment. He deemed Baka 'worthy' of embodying the unity of the country, although this claim was not supported by all parties within the parliament.

Baka's appointment is viewed in light of recent political changes and shifts in leadership in Hungary. He has previously criticized the diminished independence of the judiciary and democratic norms under Orbán.

With his appointment, Baka marks a potential turning point in Hungary's political landscape, given his history as an opponent of Orbán and his policies. Developments will be closely monitored by both domestic and international observers in the coming time.