Hungary President Tamas Sulyok signs constitutional amendment ending his term in office

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok has signed a constitutional amendment that immediately ends his term as head of state. The legislation, passed by Prime Minister Peter Magyar's ruling Tisza party, cites a "serious loss of confidence" in Sulyok, who was elected in early 2024 by lawmakers from former Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist Fidesz party.

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The seventeenth amendment to the Constitution has marked a watershed in Hungary's constitutional democracy.

Sulyok stated he had no choice but to approve the amendment, as it adhered to the letter of the law. However, the former Constitutional Court judge expressed concern that the reform damages the rule of law in Hungary. He described the amendment as a "watershed" moment, warning that removing public office holders in a manner that violates the rule of law sets a dangerous precedent, deeply wounding democratic values, the separation of powers, and the rule of law.

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By removing public office holders in a manner that openly violates the rule of law... it sets a negative precedent that inflicts a deep wound on the constitutional values of democracy, the separation of powers, and the rule of law.

Former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose party Fidesz faced a significant defeat in the April election, condemned the reforms. He argued on Facebook that "Tyranny is no longer a threat but reality. If this could be done to the President, tomorrow, no one will be safe." Fidesz has experienced several high-profile resignations and a decline in public support since the election loss.

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Tyranny is no longer a threat but reality. If this could be done to the President, tomorrow, no one will be safe.

The Hungarian parliament, where Magyar's Tisza party holds a two-thirds majority, will now elect an interim president. Parliament Speaker Agnes Forsthoffer is expected to assume this role from Monday. Prime Minister Magyar stated that these actions are about "restoring something that the Orban regime spent many years trying to take away from the Hungarian people" – the certainty that power can be constrained and the state can serve its citizens. The amendment also introduces a 12-year term limit for lawmakers and a retirement age of 70 for Constitutional Court judges, which will force the retirement of Orban ally Peter Polt, the court's current president.

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With these decisions, we are restoring something that the Orban regime spent many years trying to take away from the Hungarian people... The certainty that power can be constrained, that public assets can be recovered, and that the state can once again serve its citizens, free Hungarian citizens.