Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok has signed the seventeenth amendment to the country's Basic Law, which simultaneously terminates his own powers as head of state. The outgoing president described this decision as an "unprecedented and shameful" example of the abuse of political power, but stressed that refusing to sign would have been a direct violation of the law.
The vote on the amendment took place on July 13 and concluded with its adoption: 139 deputies voted "for", 6 voted "against", and there were no abstentions. The document was submitted to parliament on behalf of the government by Prime Minister Péter Magyar himself. Notably, the session itself was boycotted by the Fidesz faction (led by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán) and the Christian Democratic People's Party.
Statement from the Outgoing President
In a statement published on Facebook, Tamás Sulyok sharply criticized the bill initiated by the ruling coalition. According to him, the amendment "terminates the powers of the current president of the republic with a single phrase," joining a series of forcibly pushed "Gordian" decisions.
The head of state characterized this maneuver as an open violation of the principles of the rule of law, the independence of institutions, and an unprecedented restriction of electoral rights. Nevertheless, Sulyok acknowledged that his constitutional duty was to sign the document passed by parliament, and any refusal to do so would have been illegal.
Political Context
The president's resignation is a logical outcome of the political processes that unfolded in Hungary after the parliamentary elections on April 12, 2026. In these elections, the Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, secured a constitutional majority in parliament.
Even during the election campaign and immediately after his victory, Magyar repeatedly called for the resignation of the heads of key state institutions, accusing them of acting as "puppets" of the previous government of Viktor Orbán and obstructing democratic reforms.
Other Constitutional Changes
In addition to terminating the powers of the current president, the seventeenth amendment to Hungary's Basic Law introduces a number of significant changes to the country's state structure:
- A maximum term of 12 years (or three sessions) is established for parliamentary mandates.
- An age limit of 70 years is introduced for Constitutional Court judges (this provision directly affects the current composition of the court).
- The possibility of recalling the chairpersons of the Supreme Court and the National Judicial Office at the initiative of the judicial community is introduced.
- A National Office for the Recovery and Protection of State Property is established.
What Happens Next
According to the provisions of the law, Tamás Sulyok's powers officially cease on the day following the amendment's entry into force. From that moment until the election of a new head of state, his duties as interim president will be performed by the Speaker of Parliament, Ágnes Forsthoffer, who is the deputy leader of the ruling Tisza party.
The procedure for electing a new President of Hungary will be initiated by parliament within the timeframes stipulated by the constitution.
