Hungarian Parliament Passes Amendment to Remove President Tamás Sulyok

The Hungarian Parliament passed the 17th amendment to the constitution on July 13, 2026, in a 139-6 vote to remove President Tamás Sulyok from office. Péter Magyar, the Prime Minister, and his center-right Tisza party leveraged a two-thirds majority won in April's landslide elections to drive the measure as part of a broader campaign titled "Operation Cleansing Fire." The government aims to dismantle the political and economic structures established by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whom Magyar characterized as having used "political puppets."

Beyond the presidency, the amendment introduces significant systemic reforms: a 12-year term limit for lawmakers, a 70-year age limit for constitutional judges, and the removal of Constitutional Court head Péter Polt. These limits effectively block many long-serving Fidesz members from future mandates and prevent Orbán's return to the premiership. The reforms serve as an interim framework until a new constitution is drafted within three years.

The far-right Fidesz party boycotted the vote, labeling the move an "unprecedented" assault on democracy. Fidesz caucus leader Gergely Gulyás resigned in protest of the new term limits. President Sulyok, who has sought an assessment from the Venice Commission, must sign the amendment within five days. Magyar warned that referring the measure to the Constitutional Court would trigger immediate impeachment proceedings and an automatic suspension of presidential powers.