Hungarian PM Magyar Proposes Constitutional Changes to Remove President

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar on Monday published a draft constitutional amendment that would immediately terminate the term of current President Tamás Sulyok. The move has drawn mixed reactions both domestically and internationally.

President Sulyok, elected in 2024 with the support of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's right-wing populist party Fidesz, has rejected Magyar's calls to resign. Magyar has called Sulyok an illegitimate puppet and urged him to step down. Political analyst Gábor Török expressed concerns on Facebook that such a precedent could threaten the rule of law, noting that "once a weapon is placed on the table, it can be used."

Magyar's center-right party Tisza won 52% of the vote in April elections, ending Orbán's 16-year rule. In response to Török's comments, Magyar stated that it would be wrong to act against the democratic will of the people. Amnesty International on Tuesday criticized the proposed amendments, emphasizing that Sulyok has the right to a fair trial and that his removal can only occur with proper legal guarantees. The organization also condemned the short five-day public consultation period.

Sulyok has appealed to the Constitutional Court and filed a complaint with the Venice Commission, the legal advisory body of the Council of Europe, arguing that Magyar's calls for his resignation are incomprehensible and unconstitutional. The draft amendment also includes the establishment of a state agency for the recovery and protection of state assets. Earlier this week, lawmakers passed anti-corruption measures and public media reforms as part of Magyar's extensive reform agenda.