Hungary’s parliament votes to oust president in latest anti-Orban move | Civil Rights News
Hungarian Parliament Approves Amendment to Remove President Sulyok
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s parliament has passed a constitutional amendment that will remove President Tamas Sulyok from his ceremonial role. The decision marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the power structures associated with former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The amendment, which received overwhelming support on Monday with 139 votes in favor and only six against, will terminate Sulyok’s term immediately and enable parliament to elect a new president.
This legislative move follows the dismissal of Orban’s right-wing nationalist government in April, when Prime Minister Peter Magyar and his Tisza Party won a decisive victory. The election ended Orban’s 16-year dominance over Hungarian politics and initiated a wave of reforms aimed at curbing the influence of his government.
Since taking office, Magyar has focused on reducing the power of former Orban allies, including Sulyok. In addition to removing the president, the constitutional amendment also introduces judicial reforms, establishes a body to investigate alleged financial misconduct by the previous administration, and sets a 12-year term limit for lawmakers.
Sulyok has five days to sign the approved amendment. Magyar has stated that parliament will initiate impeachment proceedings against him if he opts not to sign.
Members of Fidesz, the former ruling party, including Sulyok, chose to boycott Monday’s parliamentary session.
Sulyok, a former chief of the Constitutional Court, was appointed president in February 2024 to succeed Katalin Novak, who resigned following a controversial pardon of a convicted sex offender.
Following the Tisza Party’s electoral victory, Magyar labeled Sulyok as “unworthy to embody the unity of the Hungarian nation” and demanded his resignation as the new government took shape. In June, after Sulyok failed to resign by the set deadline, Magyar described him as a “puppet” of Orban and promised constitutional means to remove him and other remnants of the previous administration.
Magyar has launched a broader reform initiative titled “Operation Cleansing Fire,” which aims to implement a new constitution, cleanse state institutions, and create an anti-corruption office. Although the presidency in Hungary is largely symbolic, it does possess the authority to approve legislation and refer matters to the Constitutional Court, raising concerns that Sulyok could obstruct Tisza’s reform agenda.
As the political landscape in Hungary continues to evolve, the passage of this amendment represents a pivotal moment in the country’s governance.
