BUDAPEST, July 13 (Reuters) — Hungary’s parliament is set to approve a constitutional amendment that would remove President Tamás Sulyok from office, marking a major political development under Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government.
The proposed move is part of Magyar’s broader effort to reverse policies and institutions linked to former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16 year rule. Magyar has accused Sulyok of being closely aligned with the previous administration, describing him as a figure who no longer represents the country’s democratic interests.
Magyar’s Tisza party holds a parliamentary supermajority, giving the government the ability to make constitutional changes. The amendment would end Sulyok’s presidency immediately, citing a “serious loss of confidence” in the head of state.
Although Hungary’s president has limited executive powers, the role carries significant symbolic importance as a representative of national unity. Sulyok, a former Constitutional Court judge who became president in 2024, has rejected claims that he acted with political bias and has challenged the proposed changes.
The planned constitutional amendment also includes wider political reforms, including limits on lawmakers’ terms and changes aimed at restructuring institutions established during the previous government. Supporters of the reforms say they are intended to strengthen democratic accountability, while critics argue that removing a sitting president through constitutional changes could set a concerning precedent.
The political shift follows Magyar’s election victory earlier this year, which ended Orbán’s long period in power and began a new phase of reforms targeting state institutions, public media and governance structures.
Leave a comment