Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced Monday that he may pursue legal action or a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamás Sulyok [1].

The move signals a deepening conflict between the head of government and the head of state over the remaining influence of the previous administration. It represents a significant escalation in the political transition following the tenure of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Magyar said the president is a puppet of Orbán and must step down to allow for a true transition of power [1]. The prime minister set a deadline for the resignation of May 31, 2026 [1]. Because that deadline has passed, Magyar said his intentions on June 1, 2026 [2].

There are conflicting reports on the exact mechanism Magyar intends to use to force Sulyok from office. Some reports indicate the government will initiate legal proceedings to dismiss the president [2]. Other reports suggest the administration may instead seek to amend the constitution to oust him [3].

Magyar said the current presidential office remains an obstacle to governance. He said that the president's ties to the former leadership prevent the country from moving forward. The prime minister did not specify the exact nature of the legal proceedings, or the specific constitutional articles he intends to change [3].

President Sulyok has not yet formally responded to the threat of removal. The tension reflects a broader struggle for control over state institutions in Hungary as the new government attempts to dismantle the structures established by Orbán [4].

“Magyar said the president is a puppet of Orbán and must step down”

This confrontation highlights the fragility of Hungary's institutional transition. By threatening to alter the constitution or use the judiciary to remove a president, Magyar is risking a constitutional crisis to ensure the complete removal of Viktor Orbán's influence from the state's highest offices.