Hungary’s Parliament votes to remove president and dismantle Orbán-era political system
Hungary’s Parliament approved a constitutional amendment Monday aimed at removing President Tamás Sulyok from office and reversing parts of the political system built during former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power.
The move was backed by Prime Minister Péter Magyar and his pro-European, center-right Tisza party, which secured a two-thirds majority in Parliament after a sweeping election victory in April. The majority allows the government to amend the constitution and roll back several policies introduced under Orbán’s leadership.
The amendment passed with 139 votes in favor and six opposed in the 199-seat Parliament. Tisza lawmakers celebrated the vote, while members of Orbán’s right-wing Fidesz party boycotted the session.
The measure must be signed by Sulyok within five days to take effect. The president has not indicated whether he will approve it, but Tisza lawmakers have threatened to begin impeachment proceedings if he refuses.
Magyar has accused Sulyok of failing to defend democratic institutions by not challenging actions taken by Orbán’s government. During his campaign, Magyar repeatedly promised to remove Sulyok, arguing that the election results gave him a mandate to carry out that pledge. Sulyok has rejected calls to step down.
After the vote, Magyar said the amendment marked the beginning of efforts to dismantle what he described as Orbán’s political and legal system.
The constitutional changes would remove Sulyok from office, allowing Parliament to elect a replacement. They would also introduce judicial reforms, create an office to investigate alleged financial abuses connected to the previous government and establish a 12-year limit on lawmakers’ terms.
Fidesz lawmakers criticized the amendment as an attack on Hungary’s democratic structure, calling it an unprecedented move that weakens the rule of law. The party held a protest against the changes last week that drew thousands of supporters, though Orbán did not attend.
Orbán responded Monday by posting an image of Magyar with the caption “Democratic Hungary: 1990-2026,” referencing the period since the country ended communist rule. Orbán was traveling to the United States to attend the final matches of the World Cup.
Although Hungary’s presidency is largely ceremonial, the role includes signing legislation and sending laws to the Constitutional Court for review. Supporters of the new government have expressed concern that Sulyok, appointed during Orbán’s administration, could use those powers to slow or block reforms.
Since taking office in May, Magyar’s government has moved quickly to remove political appointees and leaders of institutions it says helped maintain Orbán’s system. The government has suspended Hungary’s public television and radio news service, which Magyar has accused of acting as a propaganda outlet, and closed the Sovereignty Protection Office, an agency critics said was used to pressure opponents and independent media.
Before the vote, Fidesz parliamentary leader Gergely Gulyás argued the amendment damaged Hungary’s legal system, restricted democracy and weakened constitutional protections. He also announced his resignation as caucus leader because the new term limits would prevent him from running for Parliament in the next election.
Fidesz supporters planned a candlelight vigil outside Parliament on Monday evening to protest what they called the authoritarian actions of Magyar’s government.
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