The July 9 demonstration, organized jointly by Fidesz and the Christian Democratic People’s Party under the banner “Stop Tyranny,” drew crowds who denounced what they characterized as an authoritarian power grab by Magyar’s Tisza party, which swept to power in April after defeating Viktor Orb\u00e1n’s government.<\/p>\n
According to Brussels Signal<\/em>, former president J\u00e1nos \u00c1der<\/strong> delivered the main address at the rally outside S\u00e1ndor Palace, warning that the planned amendment would represent the destruction of Hungary’s rule of law. \u00c1der, who served as president from 2012 to 2022 under Orb\u00e1n-led governments, told demonstrators the measure would replace legal certainty with anarchy.<\/p>\n The constitutional crisis centers on the 17th amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law, submitted by Magyar’s government on July 4. The amendment would terminate Sulyok’s mandate the day after it takes effect, cutting short what was meant to be a five-year term that began in 2024 when a Fidesz-controlled parliament elected him.<\/p>\n \u00c1der argued that constitutional procedures allow a president to be removed only through impeachment for legal violations, and that Sulyok has committed none. He invoked historical parallels to communist-era forced removals of government leaders, including Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy<\/strong> in 1947 and President Zolt\u00e1n Tildy<\/strong> in 1948, declaring he had accepted the invitation to speak because democracy itself was under threat.<\/p>\n Tisza commands a two-thirds parliamentary majority after ending Orb\u00e1n’s 16 years in office, giving it the votes needed to pass constitutional amendments without opposition support. The amendment is widely expected to clear parliament despite protests.<\/p>\n Sulyok has refused to step down voluntarily and has referred the measure to the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission for review. In an interview with Polish weekly Do Rzeczy, the President called the amendment a law tailored to a specific individual, which he said cannot be reconciled with the rule of law.<\/p>\n Bertalan Havasi<\/strong>, Fidesz communications chief, and MP G\u00e1bor Sz\u0171cs<\/strong> also addressed the rally. KDNP president Zsolt Semj\u00e9n<\/strong> attended and was acknowledged from the stage. Orb\u00e1n promoted the event on social media but did not appear in person.<\/p>\n Magyar has accused \u00c1der of misusing public funds through his Blue Planet Foundation, charges the former president has rejected while demanding evidence and an apology.<\/p>\n The European Commission indicated it is monitoring the constitutional amendment process in Hungary, though it has not yet taken a formal position on the dispute.<\/p>\n