The Hungarian Parliament approved a constitutional amendment on Monday that allows for the removal of President Tamás Sulyok [1, 2, 3].

This legislative move signals a significant shift in the country's political structure. By creating a legal mechanism to remove the head of state, the parliament is reorganizing political power and targeting a president viewed as a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán [2, 5].

The measure is identified as the 17th constitutional amendment [4]. The vote took place in the Parliament building in Budapest, establishing a new legal framework for the presidency [3].

President Sulyok now faces a strict deadline to respond to the legislation. Reports on the exact timeframe vary; some sources said he has four days to renounce, sign the amendment, or refer it to the Constitutional Court [4]. Other reports said he has five days to sign the amendment or forward it to the court [6].

The amendment arrives amid efforts to restructure the executive branch. The process of removal allows the legislative body to remove the president from office, a move that could fundamentally alter the balance of power within the Hungarian government [2, 3].

Sulyok has not yet publicly responded to the vote. The outcome depends on whether he signs the measure into law or seeks a judicial review through the Constitutional Court [4, 6].

“The Hungarian Parliament approved a constitutional amendment that allows for the removal of President Tamás Sulyok.”

The approval of the 17th constitutional amendment represents a strategic consolidation of power within Hungary. By streamlining the process to remove the president, the parliament reduces the independence of the head of state, potentially transforming the presidency into a more disposable role that can be adjusted to suit the immediate needs of the ruling administration.