In brief
Hungary’s legislature has voted to terminate the term of President Tamás Sulyok and the Constitutional Court head after a triumphant 2026 election for the opposition Tisza party. Using a two‑thirds majority, the parliament passed a 17th constitutional amendment that gives the government the power to dismiss any public official and effectively ends Sulyok’s presidency. Sulyok has five days to sign the amendment or face impeachment, while many opposition deputies have walked out of parliament, accusing the new government of authoritarian tactics. The decision marks a dramatic change from the 16‑year rule of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party and signals a new era under Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
On Monday, Hungary’s National Assembly used a two‑thirds majority to approve a 17th amendment to the constitution that ends the term of President Tamás Sulyok and the head of the Constitutional Court, Péter Polt.
The amendment, passed by the Tisza‑led opposition after a landslide victory over Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party in April, grants the government the power to dismiss any public office holder with immediate effect.
Sulyok now has five days to sign the amendment—effectively his own death warrant—or risk being impeached, which would suspend him from office automatically. Some parties suggest resignation to avoid a constitutional crisis.
Opposition deputies from Fidesz staged a walk‑out during the vote, accusing the ruling coalition of building a tyranny. They argue the new law erodes the democratic principle that the public can freefully choose its representatives.
The 2011 constitution, drafted during Orbán’s early rule, formalised a “winner‑takes‑all” system that allowed the ruling party to place loyalists in key state positions. The power shift has left many former Orbán supporters uneasy, especially after the party’s four‑year plunge in the election.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar welcomes the move as a step toward a more open governance structure. He has pledged to dismantle the entrenched Fidesz grip on institutional appointments.
The amendment also removes Constitutional Court judges over the age of 70 and bars deputies who have served three terms from standing for re‑election, affecting more than half of the current Fidesz membership.
Sources: BBC News, European portal updates. Images from licensed photographers.
