Hungary’s President Tamás Sulyok has agreed to step down following the passage of a constitutional amendment by the ruling Tisza party led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar. The amendment, which Sulyok signed into law, terminates his presidential term immediately and cites society’s “serious loss of confidence” in the leader, who was elected in early 2024 by members of Viktor Orbán’s nationalist Fidesz party.
Despite agreeing to the constitutional change, Sulyok, a former constitutional court judge, expressed concerns about the reform’s implications for democratic principles. He characterized the seventeenth constitutional amendment as a significant turning point that violates the rule of law by removing public officials without due process safeguards. The president warned that such actions undermine constitutional democracy, the separation of powers, and democratic values in Hungary.
The amendment represents part of Magyar’s broader effort to dismantle the political structures built by Orbán during his 16 years as leader. Magyar’s Tisza party secured a decisive election victory in April, which allowed the centre-right coalition to gain a two-thirds parliamentary majority capable of amending the constitution. Under the new legislation, Parliament will elect a replacement president to serve until either a new constitution takes effect or a maximum of five years passes. Parliament speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer was set to assume the interim presidency starting Monday.
The constitutional changes extend beyond the presidency. The amendment establishes a 12-year term limit for lawmakers and sets a mandatory retirement age of 70 for constitutional court judges, a provision that would force constitutional court president Péter Polt, described as an Orbán ally, into retirement.
Orbán criticized the developments on social media, characterizing the amendments as authoritarian overreach. Meanwhile, Fidesz has experienced internal difficulties since its electoral defeat, including high-profile resignations and declining public support. Magyar framed the constitutional changes as restoring institutional checks on executive power and enabling the state to serve citizens’ interests rather than partisan objectives.