Magyar Files Amendment to Oust Hungarian President Sulyok

According to Brussels Signal, Magyar announced on July 4 that his Tisza party had formally filed the 17th amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law in parliament. The proposed change would terminate Sulyok’s presidential mandate immediately upon the amendment taking effect, with lawmakers granted 30 days to elect a replacement.

Tisza secured a commanding two-thirds parliamentary majority in April’s election, providing Magyar with the supermajority needed to rewrite the constitution that Orbán had shaped over 16 years in power. Sulyok was appointed to the presidency by a Fidesz-controlled parliament in 2024.

Magyar Brands Campaign ‘Operation Purgatory’

The prime minister has labeled his reform drive “Operation Purgatory” and has repeatedly demanded that Sulyok resign voluntarily. Magyar has accused the president of protecting the former government and failing to fulfill his constitutional obligations. Sulyok refused to comply with a May 31 deadline to step down.

The president has stood his ground, arguing that the amendment represents a personal attack rather than institutional reform and cannot be squared with rule-of-law principles. Sulyok has emphasized that he never belonged to any political party and has signed legislation passed by the new parliamentary majority.

Sulyok has now referred the proposed amendment to the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission for review. He has warned that power is becoming increasingly concentrated under Magyar’s government.

Fidesz and Rights Groups Raise Alarms

Fidesz, now relegated to opposition status, has condemned the amendment in stark terms. Parliamentary group leader Gergely Gulyás characterized the move as the death of constitutional democracy and the beginning of authoritarian governance. He claimed the amendment would undermine the Constitutional Court and prevent many opposition MPs from seeking reelection.

Notably, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International Hungary—both longtime critics of Orbán—have also raised concerns about Magyar’s approach. The organizations argued that removing Sulyok through a targeted constitutional amendment circumvents the established impeachment process and existing rule-of-law protections.

Brussels Turns Critical Eye on Magyar

For years, Orbán’s government clashed repeatedly with the European Union over rule-of-law standards. Brussels is now directing similar scrutiny toward his successor, as concerns mount that Magyar may be employing the same heavy-handed tactics he once criticized.

Beyond Sulyok’s removal, the amendment package would impose term limits on members of parliament, dissolve the Parliamentary Guard, and establish a new asset-recovery office. Magyar has pledged that Hungary will have a new head of state in place before the August 20 national holiday. Sulyok, however, has maintained that holding a parliamentary majority does not justify exercising every power that is technically available.

With information from Brussels Signal