Hungary's Parliament approved a constitutional amendment on July 13 with 139 votes in favor and 6 against to cut short President Tamas Sulyok's term. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] The amendment requires Sulyok to sign it within five days to take effect; if he refuses, parliament will initiate impeachment proceedings and suspend him from duties. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza Party, which won a landslide two-thirds majority in the April 2026 elections ending Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule, led the push for the amendment. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9]
Magyar accused Sulyok of acting as a puppet for former Prime Minister Orban and blamed him for obstructing reforms. "Sulyok is a puppet of Orban and the outgoing government. If he refuses to comply, we will take further political actions," Magyar said. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] The mostly ceremonial presidency has authority to sign laws and refer them to the Constitutional Court, creating concern that Sulyok could block government reforms. [1, 3, 6, 7, 9] Sulyok denied political motives and refused to resign voluntarily, stating, "I have no political motives and so far refuse to resign." [1, 3, 6, 7, 9]
The amendment includes several other constitutional reforms. It limits lawmakers to 12-year terms, mandates retirement for Constitutional Court judges at age 70, and establishes an anti-corruption office. [2, 4] The outgoing Fidesz and Christian Democratic People's Party boycotted the parliamentary vote, condemning it as undemocratic. [4, 5, 7]
If Sulyok signs the amendment, his presidency will end the day after it takes effect. Parliament must then elect a new president within 30 days. [4, 5] Should he refuse to sign, impeachment will suspend him from duties while the process proceeds. [2, 5, 9]
The parliamentary vote follows Magyar’s strong April election win, which he called historic. "They (Fidesz) designed the state system so that the will of one person could control legislation... Tisza Party won an overwhelming two-thirds majority to overturn this system," Magyar said. [1] He described the constitutional changes as dismantling the previous regime. "We have now completed constitutional reforms dismantling the Orban regime," Magyar added. [4]
The next key date is the end of the five-day window for Sulyok to sign the amendment, after which impeachment proceedings may begin if he does not comply.
