Hungary's president signs law ending his term in office

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok has signed a constitutional amendment that immediately ends his term as head of state, a move orchestrated by Prime Minister Peter Magyar's ruling Tisza party. The legislation, passed by the party with a two-thirds majority in parliament, aims to dismantle the power structures established by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Sulyok, a former Constitutional Court judge, stated he had no choice but to approve the amendment, which cites a "serious loss of confidence" in his leadership. He was elected in early 2024 by lawmakers from Orban's nationalist Fidesz party. However, Sulyok warned that the reform undermines the rule of law in Hungary, calling it a "watershed" moment that inflicts a "deep wound" on democratic values, separation of powers, and the rule of law.

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The seventeenth amendment to the Constitution has marked a watershed in Hungary's constitutional democracy. 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 criticized the reforms on Facebook, equating them to "tyranny" and warning that "no one will be safe" if the president can be removed in such a manner. Fidesz has seen a decline in public support and high-profile resignations since its election defeat in April.

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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.

Prime Minister Magyar announced that Parliament Speaker Agnes Forsthoffer will serve as interim president starting Monday. He framed the changes as restoring power to the Hungarian people, asserting that "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." The amendment also introduces a 12-year term limit for lawmakers and a retirement age for Constitutional Court judges, impacting Orban allies.

Magyar had repeatedly called for Sulyok's resignation since ousting Orban in April, accusing him of failing to represent national unity and serving Orban's interests. The amendment also imposes a 12-year term limit on lawmakers and sets a retirement age of 70 for Constitutional Court judges, which will force the court's current president, Orban ally Peter Polt, to retire.

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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.