Edoardo Marchesi The political landscape in Hungary has undergone a dramatic transformation with the recent approval of a constitutional amendment that removes President Tamás Sulyok from his largely ceremonial position. This move is part of a broader effort to dismantle the power structures associated with former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who ruled the country for 16 years.
The amendment, passed on Monday with 139 votes in favor and only six opposing, immediately ends Sulyok’s term and paves the way for the election of a new president. This development follows the landslide victory of the new Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party in April, which ended Orbán’s long-standing dominance.
The Constitutional Amendment and Its Implications
The constitutional amendment not only removes Sulyok but also introduces a series of judicial reforms, creates a body to investigate alleged financial abuses under the previous government, and imposes a 12-year term limit on lawmakers. Sulyok now has five days to sign the amendment. If he refuses, the Parliament will initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
The presidency in Hungary is largely symbolic, but it holds the power to approve laws and refer them to the Constitutional Court for review. This has raised concerns that Sulyok might use his presidential powers to obstruct the Tisza Party’s ambitious reform agenda.
The Political Context
Prime Minister Péter Magyar has been vocal about his intentions to erode the power of Orbán’s Fidesz party. He has accused Sulyok of being a “puppet” of Orbán and has promised to strip him and other holdovers from office by constitutional means. Magyar’s reform program, dubbed “Operation Cleansing Fire,” aims to install a new constitution, purge state institutions, and establish an anticorruption office.
The Fidesz party, which had dominated Hungarian politics for over a decade, has boycotted the parliamentary session where the amendment was passed. Gergely Gulyás, the leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group, announced his resignation, stating that the removal of the head of state and the violent approach experienced in recent times are unprecedented.
The Reactions and Future Prospects
The removal of Sulyok has sparked a range of reactions from both domestic and international observers. While some see it as a necessary step to dismantle the old order and restore democratic principles, others view it as a move that could further polarize the political landscape.
Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have expressed concerns about the process, emphasizing the importance of due process and the rule of law. However, jurist Andras Baka, a former head of Hungary’s supreme court, argued that such extraordinary measures are justified in a country that has become a “captured state” under Orbán’s rule.
As Hungary navigates this political transition, the focus will be on how the new government under Péter Magyar implements its reform agenda and addresses the challenges of corruption and democratic governance. The removal of President Sulyok marks a significant milestone in this process, setting the stage for further changes in the country’s political and institutional framework.