Hungary’s President to Leave Office After Backing Constitutional Amendment
Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok will step down after signing a constitutional amendment that formally brings his tenure to an end, resolving a political standoff that had raised concerns about a constitutional crisis.
The amendment, approved by parliament earlier in the week, was championed by Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s governing Tisza party following its sweeping election victory in April.
Since assuming power, the party has pursued changes aimed at removing officials appointed during the previous administration, including the President.
Sulyok was required to decide within five days whether to approve or reject the legislation. A refusal could have opened the door to impeachment proceedings and prolonged the political deadlock.
Announcing his decision on Saturday, the President signed the amendment but criticised the process that led to it.
He argued that the changes marked a troubling moment for Hungary’s constitutional system and warned that democratic principles were being weakened by political interests.
The legislation terminates the President’s mandate on the grounds of a “serious loss of confidence” and introduces a series of broader constitutional reforms.
Among them are the removal of the President of the Constitutional Court and new term limits that prevent lawmakers who have completed three parliamentary terms from contesting another election.
The term-limit provision is expected to affect dozens of members of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, which dominated Hungarian politics for 16 years before its defeat in April.
The Tisza government says the reforms are part of a wider effort to rebuild state institutions and reverse policies introduced under the previous administration.
Orbán has condemned the amendment, describing it as an assault on democracy, and has urged his supporters to oppose the government’s actions.
Since losing power, the former prime minister has made few public appearances and has not taken his seat in parliament.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the constitutional amendment, with members of the governing party celebrating after the result was announced, paving the way for the changes to take effect.
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