Hungary’s PM Magyar moves to amend constitution after Sulyok rejects resignation deadline
Prime Minister Peter Magyar has initiated constitutional procedures to remove President Tamas Sulyok following the latter’s refusal to step down by a Sunday deadline, prompting a legal challenge from the presidency.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has confirmed plans to amend the constitution to remove President Tamas Sulyok from office, following the president’s refusal to resign by a Sunday deadline. Magyar, whose Tizsa party secured an overwhelming victory in the April elections, stated that the legislative process to effect the removal is expected to take approximately one month.
The move comes after talks between the two leaders at the Sandor Palace on Monday morning ended without an agreement. Magyar described Sulyok as a "puppet" of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban and accused him of failing to uphold democratic standards. Specifically, the prime minister cited Sulyok’s silence regarding Orban’s dehumanising statements about political opponents and the previous government’s decision to ban an LGBTQ pride event.
Although the Hungarian presidency is largely ceremonial, it holds significant constitutional powers, including signing legislation into law and referring bills to the Constitutional Court for review. The new government fears that Sulyok could utilise these powers to obstruct its agenda to dismantle the political system established by Orban over his 16-year tenure. Magyar argued that the office of the president must regain the prestige eroded by what he termed "silence and inaction."
In response to the political pressure, Sulyok’s office released a statement asserting that Magyar’s demands adversely affect the constitutional functioning and authority of the presidency. The statement confirmed that the president has requested a legal assessment of the conflict from the Venice Commission, a body of legal experts within the Council of Europe that advises on democratic standards.
Magyar indicated that the legislative proposals would be presented to lawmakers of the Tizsa party immediately, with the aim of removing not only Sulyok but also other officials appointed under the previous administration. While the prime minister outlined the political rationale for the changes, he did not specify the exact constitutional mechanism or legislative text that would be used to execute the removal.
