Hungary’s parliament votes to oust president in latest anti-Orban move

Hungary's parliament has approved a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamas Sulyok from office. The measure, passed with a significant majority, aims to dismantle the power of figures associated with former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This action follows the recent election where Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Tisza Party won a landslide victory, ending Orban's 16-year rule. The amendment also includes judicial reforms and a term limit for lawmakers. President Sulyok, who was appointed in February 2024, has five days to sign the amendment; otherwise, parliament will initiate impeachment proceedings. Members of Orban's Fidesz party boycotted the parliamentary session.

Hungary's parliament has voted to remove President Tamás Sulyok from office. Sulyok was considered a loyalist of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose party, Fidesz, had reshaped the Hungarian state and filled positions with loyalists. The vote follows an amendment to the constitution, which critics argue was designed to maintain Fidesz's influence even after electoral defeat. The amendment also removes Constitutional Court judges over 70 and prevents deputies who have served three terms from running again, impacting a significant portion of current Fidesz deputies. This action is seen by some as an attempt to dismantle an authoritarian regime established after 2010.