Wire flash
PoliticsHungarian parliament votes 139-6 to pass constitutional amendment enabling removal of Orbán-loyal President Sulyok
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
On July 13, 2026, the Hungarian parliament voted 139-6 to approve a constitutional amendment enabling the removal of President Tamas Sulyok, a close ally of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The vote was boycotted by Orbán's Fidesz party. New Prime Minister Peter Magyar, whose Tisza party won a two-thirds majority in April elections, accused Sulyok of being a 'puppet' of Orbán and of various offenses related to Orbán's conduct in office. Sulyok must countersign the amendment or face impeachment proceedings requiring a two-thirds parliamentary vote and Constitutional Court approval. Critics, including Amnesty International and Fidesz, argue the move sets a dangerous precedent and is autocratic. The amendments also include a 12-year term limit for deputies, effective after the 2030 election, which would bar Orbán from running for parliament again. A May poll indicated 67% of Hungarian voters want Sulyok to resign.
Source report
Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok. Source: AFP/ATTILA KISBENEDEK
The Hungarian parliament has voted to amend the constitution, paving the way for the removal of President Tamas Sulyok. The new head of government, Peter Magyar, accuses Sulyok of being a "puppet" of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Parliamentary Vote
The National Assembly in Budapest approved the controversial plan on Monday with 139 votes in favor and six against. Deputies from Orban's Fidesz party boycotted the vote.
Magyar's Tisza party secured a two-thirds majority in the April parliamentary election, ousting Orban, who had been in power since 2010. This majority allows Magyar to push through constitutional amendments.
Allegations Against Sulyok
Sulyok, who has been in office since 2024, is a confidant of Orban. Magyar accuses him of various offenses related to Orban's conduct in office. According to Magyar, Sulyok and other high-ranking state officials were "puppets" of his predecessor.
Path to Removal
For the new regulations to take effect, Sulyok must countersign them. If he refuses, Magyar has threatened impeachment proceedings, which would require a two-thirds majority vote in parliament and approval from the Constitutional Court.
Controversy and Criticism
Critics argue that removing Sulyok could set a dangerous precedent. Amnesty International stated that Sulyok is entitled to a fair process. Fidesz described Magyar's actions as "autocratic"—an accusation frequently leveled against Orban during his tenure.
In response to concerns, Magyar stated at the end of June that it was "not appropriate to override the democratic will of the people and the mandate." The government noted that Sulyok has suffered a "severe loss of trust." According to a May survey by the 21 Research Center, 67 percent of Hungarian voters want Sulyok to step down.
Additional Constitutional Changes
The amendments also include a limit on parliamentary terms to twelve years. This regulation will take effect after the next parliamentary election in 2030 and would, for example, prevent Orban from running for parliament again.
AFP/lay/dpa
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
Part of this Story
Hungary passes constitutional amendment limiting prime minister terms, blocking Orbán's return