On Saturday, Hungary’s president, Tamás Sulyok, officially signed a constitutional amendment that brought his term to an end. This decision concluded a significant dispute between the president and the newly elected government, which sought to remove him as part of a broader initiative to replace officials appointed during Viktor Orbán‘s administration.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who achieved a decisive victory over Orbán in the April elections, had consistently called for the resignation of the Orbán-appointed president. Magyar contended that Sulyok had not fulfilled his obligations as president by failing to challenge the anti-democratic measures enacted by the previous government.
After Sulyok declined to resign, lawmakers from Magyar’s pro-European, centre-right Tisza party passed a constitutional amendment that mandated the immediate conclusion of his term. Sulyok had five days to enact the amendment, and he ultimately did so on the final day of that period.
In a video posted on Facebook, Sulyok expressed that being compelled to sign this amendment served as a “lasting proof” that essential principles of a free society—such as the rule of law, democracy, and power-sharing—had been compromised in the pursuit of political power.
Sulyok’s official departure from office will take place at midnight on Monday, after which the Speaker of Parliament, Ágnes Forsthoffer, will automatically assume his responsibilities until a new president is elected, a process that is expected to be completed within 30 days.
Since taking office in May, Magyar’s administration has actively worked to dismantle what he characterises as Orbán’s “mafia” by removing numerous political appointees and leaders of institutions deemed to have supported Orbán’s autocratic governance. The new government has also suspended the news services of Hungary’s public television and radio, which Magyar has criticised as a “propaganda factory” for Orbán’s party. Furthermore, the government has closed Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office, which opponents viewed as a tool for intimidating dissenters and suppressing independent media.
The amendment that terminated Sulyok’s presidency also introduced judicial reforms, established an office to investigate financial misconduct under the Orbán government, and implemented a 12-year term limit for lawmakers. In response to Sulyok’s signing of the amendment, Orbán stated on Facebook that “tyranny is no longer a threat, but a reality,” warning that if such actions could be taken against the president of the republic, then no individual would be safe from similar measures.
On the other hand, Magyar emphasised in a video statement that the passage of the amendment fulfilled several important commitments and restored rights that the Orbán regime had infringed upon for many years. He further indicated that he would convene his party on Monday to discuss nominating a successor to the presidency.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
