Hungary’s Parliament Approves Amendment to Remove President and Reform Political System

Hungary’s Parliament has taken a significant step to reshape the country’s political landscape by passing a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamás Sulyok and implement political reforms. This action aims to dismantle the political system established under the 16-year rule of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Current Prime Minister Péter Magyar and his center-right Tisza party hold a two-thirds majority, enabling them to make these changes.

The amendment was approved with 139 votes for and six against in the 199-member Parliament. Supporters of Tisza celebrated with a standing ovation, although members of Orbán’s Fidesz party boycotted the session. Sulyok is required to sign the amendment within five days for it to become law. If he refuses, Tisza intends to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.

Magyar criticized Sulyok for failing to oppose antidemocratic actions by Orbán’s government. During the election campaign, Magyar vowed to remove Sulyok, viewing the party’s election victory as a clear mandate from the Hungarian people to fulfill this promise. However, Sulyok has resisted calls to resign.

Following the vote, Magyar declared that this marks the beginning of the transformation of the legal system established under Orbán, stating, “We asked for and received a completely clear mandate from the Hungarian people to do this.” The amendment also introduces judicial reforms, creates an office to investigate financial abuses under Orbán, and imposes a 12-year term limit on lawmakers.

Fidesz opposes the amendment, calling it an “unprecedented” attack on Hungary’s democratic framework. They recently held a protest against the changes, which had an attendance of around 3,000 people. Orbán himself did not attend the protest.

While largely ceremonial, Hungary’s president has the authority to sign legislation into law and can request that Parliament-passed bills be reviewed by the Constitutional Court. This has raised concerns that Sulyok, a figure from the Orbán era, might use his position to block the new government’s initiatives.

Since assuming office, Magyar’s government has taken swift steps to dismantle what he terms Orbán’s “mafia,” removing numerous political appointees and heads of institutions that supported Orbán’s regime. They have also suspended Hungary’s public television and radio news services, which Magyar argues were propaganda tools for Orbán’s party, and closed Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office, criticized for intimidating critics and silencing independent media.

Prior to the amendment’s passage, Fidesz caucus leader Gergely Gulyás expressed concerns, stating it would “break up the legal system, undermine the rule of law and restrict democracy.” Gulyás announced his resignation as caucus leader, citing the amendment’s term limit, which would prevent him from seeking re-election.

Fidesz supporters organized a candlelight vigil outside Parliament to express their disapproval of what they describe as the “tyranny” of Magyar’s government.