Hungarian President Sulyok to sign constitutional reform, ending his term

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

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. Sulyok stated he lacked "constitutional means" to oppose it.

Hungarian lawmakers adopted the constitutional amendment on Monday as part of an initiative by current conservative and pro-European Prime Minister Peter Magyar. The reform aims to loosen the grip of Viktor Orban – ousted from power – and his allies on the country.

In a video posted on Facebook, Mr. Sulyok said he had no "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.

Peter 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 his "puppets."

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Fidesz, Viktor Orban's party, organized a protest on July 9 to denounce the constitutional reform, calling it "autocratic" – a criticism often leveled at the former nationalist leader when he was in power. Human rights organizations also criticized the measure, with Human Rights Watch describing these adjustments as 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. Peter Magyar welcomed the president's decision, stating that "the last obstacle to the implementation of our common decisions has been removed."

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 acting 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.

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