Hungarian Legislature Moves to Oust President Amid Constitutional Overhaul

Hungary parliament votes to remove president – In a significant political development, Hungary’s parliament has cast its vote to dismiss President Tamás Sulyok from his position. The outgoing president was generally regarded as a steadfast supporter of Viktor Orbán, the former prime minister whose administration concluded in April following a sixteen-year tenure. This decisive action comes as Péter Magyar’s Tisza party, having secured a commanding electoral victory, pushes forward with sweeping constitutional changes.

A Constitutional Amendment Package

Utilizing its substantial two-thirds majority, the Tisza party successfully advanced the seventeenth amendment to the Hungarian constitution. This legislative move effectively terminates the terms of both President Sulyok and Péter Polt, who serves as the head of the Constitutional Court. The parliamentary session marked the most turbulent day since the new administration assumed control in early May, following its unexpected landslide triumph over Orbán’s Fidesz party on April 12.

The amendment package encompasses multiple laws designed to steer the nation until a fresh constitution can be implemented within the next two to three years. Beyond removing the president and court head, the legislation also disqualifies Constitutional Court judges who have surpassed the age of seventy. Additionally, it prohibits parliamentary deputies who have completed three terms from seeking re-election, a provision that impacts more than half of the current Fidesz membership.

President’s Options and Potential Consequences

President Sulyok now faces a critical five-day window to either sign the amendment—effectively accepting what some describe as his political demise—or forward the matter to the Constitutional Court for review. Should he choose the judicial route, Prime Minister Magyar has indicated plans to initiate impeachment proceedings, which would automatically suspend the president from duty. Alternatively, Sulyok could opt for a straightforward resignation to prevent a constitutional crisis, a course of action the incoming government has been advocating.

“The great irony of the situation is that Fidesz have fallen foul of their own concept of power,” Péter Rona, a former opposition presidential candidate, explained to the BBC.

Deputies from Fidesz, now relegated to the opposition, departed the parliamentary chamber prior to Monday’s vote. They accused the Tisza party of constructing a form of tyranny, arguing that the amendment empowers the government to dismiss any public official at will, with immediate effect.

Historical Context and Reactions

The political landscape reflects a reversal of fortune for Fidesz, which had long operated under the “winner takes all” principle enshrined in the 2011 constitution drafted by Orbán’s administration. Between 2010 and 2026, Fidesz transformed Hungary’s state apparatus according to its preferences, populating ostensibly independent positions with party loyalists through its own two-thirds parliamentary majority.

“I quite agree with the removal of the president,” András Baka, former head of the Supreme Court, told the BBC. “Hungary was governed by the rule of law from 1989 to 2010. After that, Fidesz captured state institutions and created an authoritarian state. And it is now very difficult to break up a sophisticated authoritarian regime… which was designed to survive even after electoral defeat.”

While the 141 Tisza deputies offered a standing ovation upon hearing the vote results, Baka noted his sole disagreement with the amendment concerns the three-term limit for deputies. He argued this restriction curtails the public’s right to choose their representatives freely.

Orbán’s Retreat and Internal Party Tensions

Since the April election, Orbán’s party has experienced a dramatic decline in fortunes. The former prime minister has remained largely absent from public view and declined to occupy his parliamentary seat. On Monday, he departed Hungary to attend the football World Cup finals in the United States. His prolonged absence has generated considerable frustration among remaining Fidesz members.

Compounding the party’s difficulties, Gergely Gulyás, the organization’s second-in-command, stepped down as head of the parliamentary group on Monday. This resignation adds to the mounting challenges facing Fidesz as it navigates its new role in opposition while the Tisza party consolidates its power through constitutional reforms.