Hungary is bracing for a constitutional showdown as Prime Minister Péter Magyar moves to consolidate power following his landslide election victory in April. Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, has announced plans to amend the constitution specifically to remove President Tamás Sulyok, an appointee of former leader Viktor Orbán.
Sulyok, who took office in February 2024, has refused to resign, insisting he will serve his full five-year term. Magyar, however, is undeterred, wielding a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to push through the necessary legislative changes.
The Prime Minister has publicly labeled Sulyok as an impediment to the rule of law and a loyalist to the previous regime. While Sulyok warns that this move could deepen social divisions and complicate the release of billions in frozen EU funds, the new government appears intent on clearing the board of all Orbán-era figures.
Beyond the presidential purge, Magyar is working to cement his party's control by proposing term limits for future prime ministers, effectively attempting to lock the door on any potential return for the former leadership.
As the government prepares to overhaul the nation's political infrastructure, the clash highlights the aggressive transition of power currently unfolding in Budapest.
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