Tamás Sulyok, who has served as Hungary’s head of state since 2010, signed a constitutional amendment that will terminate his term at midnight on Sunday. The change was approved by a strong majority in parliament at the behest of the Tisza‑affiliated parties, who have long held the upper hand after the April election.
The amendment, described by opposition commentators as a “breaking point in constitutional democracy”, was passed with an overwhelming majority and cites a “serious loss of confidence” in the current presidency. It also removes the chief of the Constitutional Court and bars MPs who have served three terms from standing again, a provision that affects more than half of the sitting members from former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party.
Sulyok had five days to sign or face a protracted constitutional crisis and impeachment proceedings. When he signed, he accused the new government of violating the rule of law and warned that core democratic values had been trampled for political power.
The change reflects the swift re‑engineering of Hungary’s state institutions by the Tisza coalition, which has filled key positions with loyalists through its two‑thirds parliamentary majority. The move marks the latest example of the government’s drive to consolidate power as it seeks to implement its long‑term agenda post-2010.
The resignation will lead to a new presidential election in the coming months, with the international community keen to see whether Hungary’s democratic trajectory will shift toward greater autonomy or deeper authoritarianism.
