Budapest, Hungary. Hungary’s parliament is set to vote on Monday on a constitutional amendment proposed by Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s government that would remove President Tamas Sulyok from office. Magyar has described Sulyok as a “puppet” of former prime minister Viktor Orban.
Constitutional amendment
The legislation follows Magyar’s landslide election victory in April, which ended Orban’s 16-year rule. Magyar has said the measure is part of efforts to dismantle Orban’s remaining power structures, for which he said voters gave his government a strong mandate.
Tisza holds a parliamentary supermajority, enabling it to amend the constitution and reverse changes introduced under Orban that it says weakened democracy.
The bill would immediately end Sulyok’s term, citing society’s “serious loss of confidence” in the president. Parliament would elect a new president to serve until a new constitution takes effect or for a maximum of five years.
Presidential role and objections
The president has limited authority to veto legislation or seek judicial review, but the office holds symbolic importance.
Sulyok, who served as a Constitutional Court judge for 10 years before parliament appointed him president in 2024, has said he has no political agenda. He has objected to the amendment and requested an assessment from the Venice Commission, a Council of Europe advisory body on constitutional matters. The commission declined to comment.
Magyar said in a Facebook post on Saturday that parliament would approve the amendment on Monday. He said impeachment proceedings would be launched if Sulyok did not sign the legislation within five days.
Further reforms
The government has also suspended news broadcasts on public service television and radio as part of an overhaul intended to make public media independent.
Magyar is expected to address parliament at 1300 CET before the vote. The bill also limits lawmakers’ terms to 12 years and states that its purpose is to ensure “the preconditions for the restoration of constitutional democracy”.
Last Thursday, Orban’s Fidesz party held a protest in support of Sulyok. Orban did not attend.