Magyar Coalition Elects New Constitutional Court Judge

Peter Magyar's parliamentary majority has elected Pal Sonnevend to Hungary's Constitutional Court, according to 24.hu. Sonnevend was approved by 138 votes to six, replacing Csaba Hende, who lost his seat following a recent constitutional amendment.

The opposition Tisza Party's nominee received eight votes during a hearing before parliament's Justice and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Monday. A representative of the Our Homeland party voted against the nomination, while members of the ruling Fidesz-KDNP alliance did not attend the session.

The committee rejected the second candidate, Andras Schiffer of the Our Homeland party, after Tisza lawmakers withheld their support.

During the hearing, Sonnevend said he had accepted the nomination in order to restore public confidence in the Constitutional Court, safeguard its independence and reintegrate it into the community of European constitutional courts. He said judicial decisions should never be influenced by politics.

Schiffer, meanwhile, stressed the importance of strengthening the rule of law and banning retroactive or personalised legislation, but faced criticism from opposition lawmakers over his political past.

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