Key facts
- Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar has filed a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamás Sulyok.
- The vote on the amendment could take place as early as next week.
- President Sulyok has stated he will not resign, calling the move a threat to democracy.
- The proposed changes also include limits on parliamentary deputies' mandates and the retirement age of constitutional judges.
- The opposition Fidesz party has called for protests against the amendment.
Hungary's President Tamás Sulyok faces potential removal from office as early as next week, following the submission of a constitutional amendment by Prime Minister Péter Magyar. The opposition Fidesz party has decried the move as 'tyranny' and called for demonstrations in support of the president.
Magyar, who secured a significant election victory in April, has consistently advocated for Sulyok's dismissal, labeling him "Orbán's puppet." The amendment, filed on Saturday, proposes to terminate the incumbent president's mandate on the day the changes to the Fundamental Law take effect. With the governing Tisza Party holding a substantial majority in parliament, the amendment is widely expected to pass.
Beyond the presidential removal, the proposed constitutional changes would also dismiss four constitutional judges by setting their retirement age at 70 and impose a 12-year term limit on parliamentary deputies. President Sulyok has publicly stated his refusal to resign, asserting that Magyar's actions pose a threat to democratic principles and the rule of law.
Fidesz has criticized the Tisza Party's actions, with former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stating that Hungarian voters did not grant authorization for such measures. The opposition contends that Sulyok's election was constitutional and that his removal constitutes personalized legislation. A delegation from the Council of Europe's Venice Commission recently visited Hungary to assess the situation, though its findings have not yet been released. The European Commission has indicated it is closely monitoring the developments.