Hungary's Parliament voted Monday to pass a constitutional amendment that removes President Tamás Sulyok and forces the retirement of certain judges [1, 2].
The move represents a sweeping attempt by Prime Minister Péter Magyar to dismantle the political network established by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. By targeting the presidency and the judiciary, the current administration aims to fundamentally restructure the Hungarian state.
According to the legislation, the amendment imposes a 12-year limit on legislators, which equates to three parliamentary terms [4]. The measure also targets top judges viewed as allies of Orbán, requiring their retirement to clear the way for new appointments [3].
Supporters of the move describe it as an effort to "reincarnate" Hungarian democracy and clear the rot left by the previous administration [3]. The action took place within the Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest on July 13, 2024 [2].
Not all observers view the shift as purely democratic. Some rights groups and a spokesperson for the Tisza party have criticized the legislation, saying that Sulyok is a "puppet" of Orbán [4].
Prime Minister Magyar said the constitutional changes are a necessary step to ensure the independence of the judiciary and the legislative branch. The removal of Sulyok and the implementation of term limits are intended to prevent the long-term consolidation of power by a single political faction [1, 3].
“Sulyok is a “puppet” of Orbán.”
This constitutional overhaul signals a pivot from the era of Viktor Orbán by systematically removing his remaining institutional safeguards. By combining the removal of the head of state with strict term limits and judicial purges, the Magyar government is attempting to reset the country's power dynamics, though the speed and nature of these changes may raise concerns regarding the stability of the rule of law.
