Hungarian Parliament Votes to Remove President, Former Orban Ally Forced Out

Hungary’s parliament has voted to remove President Tamas Sulyok, a close ally of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban who lost power in April after 16 years in office.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Fidesz party used its two-thirds majority to force through Constitutional Amendment No. 17, ending the mandate of both Sulyok and Constitutional Court President Peter Polt. The move marked the most dramatic day in parliament since the new government took office in early May.

Sulyok now has five days to sign the amendment, which amounts to signing his own political death warrant, or refer it to the Constitutional Court for review. Magyar has stated that if Sulyok refers the matter to the court, he will initiate impeachment proceedings, which would automatically suspend his presidency. Another option is for Sulyok to resign directly to avoid plunging the country into a constitutional crisis, an outcome the new government has been urging him to accept.

Fidesz lawmakers, now in opposition, walked out before the vote. The opposition roundly rejected the amendment, with Tamas Deutsch, leader of the opposition Fidesz parliamentary group, describing the session as “a constitutional farce”. Justice Minister Balazs Gulyas argued that the current constitutional framework had become unsustainable because Sulyok was elected by the previous parliament and was perceived as a partisan figure.

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Under the amendment, Sulyok’s removal would take effect immediately after his signature or if he does not refer the amendment to the Constitutional Court within the five-day window. If he refers it, the court has 30 days to rule, during which Sulyok’s powers would be suspended. The amendment also provides for the appointment of a new president by parliamentary election within 15 days of the vacancy being declared.

The amendment also removes Peter Polt, whose term would have ended in 2028, from his position as Constitutional Court president, a position he has held since 2016. Polt is expected to be replaced by Zsolt Szabo.

The developments signal a significant shift in Hungary’s political landscape, with the new government moving swiftly to dismantle the structures and personnel associated with the Orban era. The crisis has deepened political polarisation in the country and sparked lively debate about the separation of powers and the limits of parliamentary authority in Hungary. The outcome of Sulyok’s decision will shape the country’s constitutional future and could set a significant precedent for the balance of power in Hungarian politics.

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