Key facts
- Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has proposed a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamás Sulyok.
- The amendment seeks to limit parliamentary terms and reform the Constitutional Court.
- A new office for asset recovery is proposed to reclaim funds from the previous administration.
- President Sulyok, whose term ends in 2029, has refused to resign.
- The proposed changes are expected to pass due to the ruling party's parliamentary majority.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has submitted a comprehensive 12-point proposal to amend the constitution, signaling a significant move to reshape the country's political landscape and distance it from the previous Viktor Orbán administration. A key element of the proposal is the termination of President Tamás Sulyok's current term, despite Sulyok's vow to remain in office until his term concludes in 2029.
Magyar's proposal extends beyond the presidency, aiming to introduce a three-term limit for members of the national parliament and establish a more independent Constitutional Court. It also includes a 70-year age limit for judges, which would effectively end the tenure of the current court president, Péter Polt. Furthermore, the amendment seeks to create a National Asset Recovery and Asset Protection Office, intended to recover funds allegedly misappropriated during Orbán's rule.
Given that Magyar's Tisza Party secured an overwhelming majority in parliament following the April elections, these constitutional changes are widely expected to be approved. Magyar has previously declared "Operation Purifying Fire" to eradicate what he terms the "Orbán mafia," emphasizing his commitment to freeing Hungary from economic and political corruption.
President Sulyok, a judge who assumed the presidency in 2024 following Katalin Novák's resignation amid a scandal, has publicly stated his intention to serve his full term. Local media reports indicate Magyar believes Hungary's rebuilding cannot commence with the current president, whom he accuses of championing a government that undermined the rule of law. The prime minister also announced that the National Assembly would elect a new President, potentially as early as this summer.
The European Commission has indicated its willingness to release billions of euros in EU funds, contingent upon Magyar's successful implementation of substantial reforms in Hungary's judiciary, anti-corruption measures, and public procurement processes.