Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced plans to amend the country's constitution, the Fundamental Law, to allow for the removal of President Tamás Sulyok. Speaking outside the Sándor Palace in Budapest on Monday morning, Magyar accused Sulyok of abandoning the republic, echoing his earlier criticism of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
"Just as Viktor Orbán has abandoned the Hungarian people, so Tamás Sulyok, whom he appointed, has abandoned the Hungarian republic," Magyar declared. He argued that the presidency must regain its authority, which he said has been eroded by "silences, untenable decisions, and omissions" in recent years.
Constitutional Amendment Details
Magyar did not specify the exact wording of the proposed amendment but emphasized it would not be tailored to target Sulyok alone. Instead, it would establish a framework applicable to other state leaders, potentially including direct presidential elections. "The office of the president of the republic is more important and more powerful than any individual head of state," he said, adding that citizens should have a greater say in electing the president.
The prime minister stated that he had informed Sulyok of his intention to proceed if the president did not resign voluntarily. He plans to discuss next steps with lawmakers from his Tisza party later today, though a final decision may take time.
Magyar invoked the Fundamental Law, which states that the president "embodies the unity of the nation and safeguards the democratic functioning of the state." He then detailed Sulyok's alleged failures, including his silence when Orbán spoke of "bugs, a big clean-up, and a shadow army." According to Magyar, Sulyok dismissed these remarks as mere political opinion, failing to defend the republic.
"The Hungarian republic does not belong to Tamás Sulyok, or to Viktor Orbán, or to any one party or political system; it is the shared creation of the Hungarian people," Magyar asserted.
Sulyok's Refusal to Resign
On Sunday, Sulyok released a Facebook video stating he would not resign and intended to continue cooperating with the government to facilitate legislation needed to unlock European Union funds. He said he would await an opinion from the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe's constitutional advisory body, and urged the government to act through constitutional means.
Magyar responded on Facebook, accusing Sulyok of never defending the downtrodden or the rule of law. "Even on Children's Day he is only defending his monthly 6.3 million forint salary. Instead of apologising," Magyar wrote.
The prime minister had set a 31 May deadline for Sulyok and several other senior officials to resign, including the president of the Constitutional Court, the head of the Supreme Court, and the leaders of the State Audit Office and the National Media Authority. On Sunday afternoon, Magyar reminded the public of the deadline and announced that he and the justice minister would visit Sulyok on Monday morning.
Magyar has previously described Sulyok as "Viktor Orbán's puppet president," alleging that Orbán prioritized loyalty to his Fidesz party over constitutional duties. Under Hungary's current system, the president is elected by parliament and holds largely ceremonial powers, though the office plays a role in constitutional review. All presidents appointed during Fidesz's supermajority—Pál Schmitt, János Áder, Katalin Novák, and Sulyok—have consistently backed Orbán's governments.
The standoff highlights ongoing tensions in Hungarian politics, with implications for the country's democratic institutions and its relationship with the EU. For more on the broader context, see Hungarian President Sulyok Defies Resignation Deadline, Awaits Venice Commission and Hungarian Parliament Reverses Orbán's ICC Withdrawal in Landmark Vote.
