Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok Signs Amendment Ending His Term

Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment on Saturday, July 18, 2026, that ends his term in office at midnight on Monday, July 20. The 17th amendment was passed by the ruling Tisza party following a standoff with Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who had labeled Sulyok a puppet of the previous administration and called for his resignation due to a failure to block antidemocratic actions.

Sulyok signed the legislation to avoid impeachment and a constitutional crisis, though he argued the move proves that the rule of law and democracy have been "trampled on in the interest of power." The amendment is part of a broader purge by the Magyar administration to dismantle the power structures established by former leader Viktor Orbán. Additional measures include a 12-year term limit for lawmakers, judicial reforms that forced out Constitutional Court President Péter Polt, and the creation of an office to investigate financial abuses under the previous regime.

Viktor Orbán condemned the reforms, stating that "tyranny is no longer a threat, but a reality." Conversely, Magyar claimed the decisions restore rights that the previous regime spent years taking away from the Hungarian people. Upon Sulyok's departure, Speaker of Parliament Ágnes Forsthoffer will serve as acting president for up to 30 days until a successor is elected.