Hungarian President Sulyok to sign constitutional reform ending his term

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok at parliament in Budapest, May 9, 2026. BERNADETT SZABO/REUTERS

Claiming to lack "constitutional means" to oppose it, Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok — an ally of former nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban — announced on Saturday, July 18, that he would sign the constitutional reform recently passed by Parliament, which ends his term.

Hungarian lawmakers adopted the constitutional amendment on Monday as part of an initiative by current conservative, pro-European Prime Minister Péter Magyar, aimed at loosening the grip of Viktor Orban — ousted from power — and his allies on the country.

In a video posted on Facebook, Mr. Sulyok stated he did not have "constitutional means to oppose this amendment which, although violating constitutional principles, was adopted by the National Assembly." "I am fulfilling my obligation under the fundamental law in good conscience, after assessing my legal options," he added.

Péter Magyar, who won a landslide victory in April by promising a "regime change" after sixteen years of Viktor Orban's rule, accuses the unpopular president and other senior state officials of being Orban's "puppets."

Read also: In Hungary, Parliament votes to impeach the President of the Republic

Viktor Orban's Fidesz party organized a protest on Thursday, July 9, to denounce the constitutional reform, calling it "autocratic" — a criticism often leveled at the former nationalist leader when he was in power. Some human rights organizations also criticized the measure, with Human Rights Watch calling the adjustments practices "reminiscent of the Fidesz era."

A Major Political Turning Point in Hungary

According to the constitutional reform, Sunday will be Mr. Sulyok's last day as head of state, with his term ending at midnight. Péter Magyar welcomed the president's decision, stating that "the last obstacle to implementing our common decisions has been removed" with Mr. Sulyok's departure.

Viktor Orban reacted in dramatic terms, claiming that "the last barrier has fallen" and that "tyranny is no longer a threat, but a reality." Agnes Forsthoffer, the speaker of parliament, will serve as interim head of state until a new president is elected by parliament within thirty days.

In Hungary, the president has no veto power over constitutional reforms and can only refer them to the Constitutional Court on procedural grounds. Additionally, the president has five days to promulgate a constitutional amendment.

Read also: In Hungary, Péter Magyar launches contested procedure to impeach the president

Mr. Sulyok nevertheless accused Péter Magyar's Tisza party of flouting the "fundamental values of a free society" out of a "thirst for power," warning that this signaled the end of "democratic rule of law" in Hungary.

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