Hungary Moves to Remove President Tamás Sulyok via 17th Constitutional Amendment

On a Saturday in early June 2026, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that his cabinet had filed the 17th amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law. The draft ends President Tamás Sulyok’s mandate the day after the amendment takes effect and calls for a new presidential election for a maximum five-year term or until a new constitution is adopted. The amendment is part of the “Operation Purgatory” reform package.

Péter Magyar ends President Tamás Sulyok’s mandate via constitutional amendment‘Anything can now be done to anyone’, opposition Fidesz says

The amendment follows the Tisza Party’s April 2026 parliamentary victory, which secured a two-thirds supermajority in the National Assembly. This supermajority enables the government to amend the Fundamental Law without opposition support, a power the coalition says is needed to dismantle remnants of the Viktor Orbán era.

Péter Magyar ends President Tamás Sulyok’s mandate via constitutional amendment

Principal actors include Prime Minister Péter Magyar (Tisza Party), President Tamás Sulyok (appointed by a Fidesz-dominated parliament in 2024), Fidesz parliamentary group leader Gergely Gulyás, the rights organization Human Rights Watch, and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission.

‘Anything can now be done to anyone’, opposition Fidesz says

• April 2026 – Tisza Party wins election with a two-thirds supermajority.

Péter Magyar ends President Tamás Sulyok’s mandate via constitutional amendment

• 31 May 2026 – Government deadline for Sulyok to resign; he declines.

Péter Magyar ends President Tamás Sulyok’s mandate via constitutional amendment

• Early June 2026 – 17th amendment submitted to parliament; vote expected by July 2026, after which the Venice Commission will review.

Péter Magyar ends President Tamás Sulyok’s mandate via constitutional amendment

The amendment ends the president’s mandate, imposes MP term limits, adds judicial-independence measures, and creates a National Asset Recovery Office for state-asset restitution. Magyar says the package is essential to restore democratic checks and balances, accusing Sulyok of acting as “Orbán’s puppet” and claiming the reforms will close loopholes that let the previous regime concentrate power.

Péter Magyar ends President Tamás Sulyok’s mandate via constitutional amendment

Fidesz leader Gulyás warned the amendment “marks the end of constitutional democracy and the beginning of autocracy,” adding that if the head of state, the Constitutional Court and opposition MPs can be targeted, “from now on, anything can be done to anyone in Hungary.” Human Rights Watch said the rushed process “risks undermining rule-of-law principles.” President Sulyok called the effort “unlawful” and referred it to the Venice Commission. Although the Fundamental Law allows presidential impeachment via the Constitutional Court, the government chose a direct amendment—a procedural shift not explained in official statements. The amendment says more than half of opposition MPs would become ineligible for future elections, but the criteria are unspecified.

‘Anything can now be done to anyone’, opposition Fidesz says

• “from now on, anything can be done to anyone in Hungary.” — Gergely Gulyás, Fidesz parliamentary group leader

‘Anything can now be done to anyone’, opposition Fidesz says

Parliament is slated to vote on the amendment by July 2026, after which the Venice Commission will issue an advisory opinion. Opposition parties have signaled plans for legal challenges, while EU observers are expected to assess the process against European democratic standards.

Péter Magyar ends President Tamás Sulyok’s mandate via constitutional amendment