Key facts
- Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment removing him from office.
- The amendment was passed by Hungary's parliament after months of pressure from Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
- Sulyok stated he was fulfilling his obligation but warned that the rule of law had ended in Hungary.
- Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized the move, expressing concerns about the rule of law.
- Péter Magyar hailed the signature as the removal of the last obstacle to his government's decisions.
- Ágnes Forsthoffer, speaker of the Hungarian parliament, is expected to succeed Sulyok.
Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment on Saturday that removes him from office, succumbing to months of public pressure led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar. Sulyok, appointed by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, had resisted calls for his resignation as part of Magyar's broader effort to dismantle what he describes as the "mafia" created by Orbán's government.
In a social media post, Sulyok stated, "I am fulfilling my obligation under the Fundamental Law — after thoroughly weighing my legal options and my conscience." He also expressed concern, warning that "the fundamental values of a free society — the rule of law, democracy, and the principle of the separation of powers — have been trampled upon for the sake of political power" and that the rule of law had ended in Hungary.
Sulyok had a five-day window to sign the amendment or refer it to Hungary's Constitutional Court. However, a 2013 amendment by Orbán stripped the court of its power to rule on the constitutionality of such amendments, limiting its review to procedural violations. The amendment also reinstated a mandatory retirement age of 70 for Constitutional Court judges, forcing out four sitting justices, including its president, Péter Polt.
Orbán reacted to the development on social media, stating, "If this could be done to the president of the republic, then tomorrow no one will be safe. God protect Hungary!" Magyar, however, viewed Sulyok's signature as the removal of the final obstacle to his government's agenda, aiming to restore limitations on power that he claims the Orbán regime eroded.
Márta Pardavi, co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, commented that Hungary needs leaders with strong integrity and democratic commitment to return the country to democratic principles, suggesting Sulyok did not meet these criteria. Sulyok is expected to leave office on Monday, with Parliament Speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer set to succeed him. Tisza lawmakers have submitted a resolution to replace Forsthoffer as speaker ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary session.