Constitutional Amendment Ends Hungarian President’s Term

Hungary’s president approved a constitutional amendment that concludes his term, resolving a conflict with the new government. This amendment is part of an effort by the current administration to remove officials appointed during Viktor Orbán’s era.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who won a landslide victory over Orbán in the April elections, had been pressuring the Orbán-appointed president, Tamás Sulyok, to step down. Magyar argued that Sulyok did not effectively fulfill his presidential duties, particularly by not opposing antidemocratic measures taken by Orbán’s government.

After Sulyok refused to resign, lawmakers from Magyar’s pro-European, center-right Tisza party passed an amendment requiring him to leave office. Sulyok signed the amendment on the last day of a five-day deadline. In a Facebook video, Sulyok, described by Magyar as Orbán’s “puppet”, claimed the act demonstrated a disregard for the core values of a free society, rule of law, and democracy.

When Sulyok’s term officially ends at midnight on Monday, the speaker of Parliament, Ágnes Forsthoffer, will temporarily take over until a new president is elected within 30 days.

Since his administration began in May, Magyar has been addressing what he terms Orbán’s “mafia” by removing various political appointees. The government halted the news service of Hungarian public television and radio, accusing them of being a “propaganda factory” for Orbán’s party. They also closed Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office, which was seen as a tool for silencing critics.

The amendment that removed Sulyok also implemented judicial reforms, created an office to investigate financial abuses under Orbán’s rule, and set a 12-year term limit for lawmakers.

In response to the amendment, Orbán stated on Facebook that the events showed tyranny was a real threat, saying, “If this could be done to the president of the republic, then tomorrow no one will be safe.”

Conversely, in a video statement, Magyar declared that the amendment fulfilled crucial commitments and restored what the Orbán regime tried to take from the Hungarian people. Magyar will convene his party soon to discuss presidential nominations.