18.07.2026 23:30
Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok has signed a constitutional amendment drafted by the Tisza Party led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, which effectively ends his term. Sulyok, a former Constitutional Court judge, stated he had no choice but to approve the law as it was procedurally sound, while arguing that the reform inflicts a deep wound on the rule of law and separation of powers in the country.
Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok announced that he had signed the constitutional amendment passed by the Tisza Party led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, which terminates his own position. Sulyok, a former Constitutional Court judge, stated that he had no choice but to approve the law because it was procedurally sound, while arguing that the reform seriously damages the rule of law in the country.
CRITICIZED THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT Regarding the decision, President Sulyok said, "The 17th amendment to the Constitution has been a turning point in Hungary's constitutional democracy. Removing public officials through a method that clearly violates the rule of law sets a negative precedent that deeply wounds the constitutional values of democracy, the separation of powers, and the principles of the rule of law."
Tamas Sulyok INTERIM PRESIDENT WILL BE AGNES FORSTHOFFER Following the signing of the law, Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced that Parliament Speaker Agnes Forsthoffer will assume the role of interim president starting Monday until Parliament elects a new president.
Prime Minister Magyar, who has repeatedly called for Sulyok's resignation since coming to power in the April elections, said, "With these decisions, we are restoring something that the Orban regime tried to take away from the Hungarian people for many years. We are restoring confidence that power can be limited, public assets can be reclaimed, and the state can once again serve free Hungarian citizens."
VIKTOR ORBAN'S REACTION: DESPOTISM IS NOW A REALITY Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban harshly criticized the constitutional amendment on his social media account. Criticizing the regulation, Orban stated, "Despotism is no longer a threat; it is the very reality. If this can be done to the President, no one will be safe tomorrow."
WHAT DOES THE NEW REGULATION INCLUDE? Under the adopted constitutional amendment, the Hungarian Parliament must elect a new president until a new constitution takes effect or for a maximum term of five years.
The new reform package also imposes a maximum 12-year term limit on policymakers.
A retirement age of 70 is imposed for Constitutional Court judges. This provision is expected to force the current President of the Constitutional Court, Peter Polt, known as an ally of Orban, into mandatory retirement.