Hungary Approves 17th Constitutional Amendment, Including Term Limits

Hungary's parliament has approved the 17th amendment to the country's fundamental law, introducing significant changes to its constitutional framework. The vote passed with a majority of parliamentary members supporting the changes.

Key provisions of the amendment include the implementation of term limits for members of parliament, restricting their service to 12 years or three terms. The amendment also addresses the termination of the current president's mandate. Following the parliamentary vote, Magyar Péter stated that if the head of state does not sign the legislation within five days, impeachment proceedings could be initiated against him. In such a scenario, the Speaker of the Parliament, Forsthoffer Ágnes, could sign the constitutional amendment in place of the president.

Further reforms outlined in the 17th amendment encompass the establishment of a more independent Constitutional Court, with an age limit of 70 years for its judges. It also aims to strengthen judicial self-governance by allowing judges to initiate the recall of the heads of the Curia (Supreme Court) and the Office of the President of the Judicial Council (OBH). A new National Asset Recovery and Protection Office will be created to bolster the protection of public funds.

Additional changes include reducing the number of "cornerstone laws" requiring a supermajority for passage, restoring certain powers to the Constitutional Court, and abolishing the veto power of the Budget Council. The amendment also renames "counties" back to "megyék" (counties) and revises the constitutional regulations for independent regulatory bodies. The unified public administration will absorb the independent Parliamentary Guard.