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Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok has signed a constitutional amendment that ends his term in office, a move that concludes a standoff between the president and the new government of Prime Minister Peter Magyar. The amendment, passed by parliament on Monday with 139 votes in favor and 6 against, took effect immediately, with Sulyok's term officially ending at midnight on Sunday. Speaker of Parliament Agnes Forsthoffer will assume presidential duties until lawmakers elect a replacement, a task with a 30-day deadline.

The signing came after Sulyok initially resisted calls from Magyar and his Tisza party to step down. Magyar had argued that Sulyok, appointed in early 2024 by lawmakers from Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party, had failed to fulfill his role by not standing in the way of what he called antidemocratic steps by the previous government. Sulyok, a former chief of the Constitutional Court of Hungary, ultimately signed the legislation on the final day of the five-day deadline, saying he had no choice but to comply with the letter of the law.

Coverage Comparison

The reports from Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, Jerusalem Post, and The Hindu — World all agree on the central facts: the constitutional amendment was passed by the Hungarian parliament, it ends Sulyok's term, and it is part of the new government's broader efforts to dismantle the power structures associated with former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The amendment also introduces judicial reforms and imposes a 12-year term limit on lawmakers, a detail included in the Deutsche Welle and The Hindu reports.

Where the coverage differs is in tone and emphasis. Al Jazeera's report focuses on the parliamentary process, noting that the measure was passed with 139 votes in favor and only six opposing, and that members of Fidesz boycotted the session. Deutsche Welle, in one of its reports, highlights the "unprecedented" nature of the amendment as described by Orbán's party, while another Deutsche Welle report and the Jerusalem Post emphasize Sulyok's criticism of the amendment and Orbán's condemnation of the reforms. The Hindu — World's coverage frames the story within the context of a "purge" of officials appointed during Orbán's reign.

All sources attribute the amendment's passage to the new government's efforts to dismantle Orbán's power, and all note that Sulyok was appointed by Orbán's party. The reports also agree that the amendment introduces judicial reforms and a 12-year term limit for lawmakers.

Key Claims

  • Hungary's parliament passed a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamas Sulyok from his largely ceremonial position, with 139 votes in favor and 6 against.
  • The amendment was part of the new government's efforts to dismantle the power of figures associated with former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
  • Sulyok was appointed by lawmakers from Orbán's Fidesz party in early 2024, replacing Katalin Novak, who resigned after pardoning a man convicted of covering up child sexual abuse.
  • The amendment introduces judicial reforms, creates a body to investigate alleged financial abuses under the previous government, and imposes a 12-year term limit on lawmakers.
  • Sulyok criticized the amendment as setting a "negative precedent that inflicts a deep wound on the constitutional values of democracy, the separation of powers and the rule of law."
  • Orbán condemned the reforms on Facebook, saying, "Tyranny is no longer a threat but reality. If this could be done to the President, tomorrow, no one will be safe."
  • Magyar had threatened to launch an impeachment procedure against Sulyok if he did not sign the amendment.
  • Sulyok's term will end at midnight on Sunday, with Speaker Agnes Forsthoffer assuming his duties until a new president is elected.

Perspectives

Magyar's government: Prime Minister Peter Magyar and his Tisza party view the amendment as a necessary step to dismantle the legacy of Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule. Magyar argued that the two-thirds majority his party won in the April election gives him a mandate to remove officials appointed under Orbán, including Sulyok, whom he accused of failing to stand up to antidemocratic measures. He described the vote as a "significant day in the history of modern Hungary and the transition to democracy."

Sulyok's position: President Sulyok, while signing the amendment, criticized it as harming the rule of law and the separation of powers. He stated that the amendment "marked a watershed in Hungary's constitutional democracy" and that it "sets a negative precedent that inflicts a deep wound on the constitutional values of democracy, the separation of powers, and the rule of law."

Orbán's reaction: Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who did not attend the vote, condemned the reforms on Facebook, warning that "tyranny is no longer a threat but reality" and that "if this could be done to the President, tomorrow, no one will be safe." His party, Fidesz, labeled the amendment an "unprecedented" assault on the country's democratic order and boycotted the parliamentary session.