Hungarian PM Moves to Amend Constitution to Remove President Sulyok

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Márki-Zay has announced plans to amend the constitution to remove President Tamás Sulyok after the president refused to resign despite repeated demands. Márki-Zay, whose party won a two-thirds majority in the April elections, has accused Sulyok of serving the interests of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and failing to uphold democratic principles.

Márki-Zay set a deadline of May 31 for Sulyok to step down, but the president declined, stating he intends to serve out his five-year term. Sulyok was appointed in February 2024 by Orbán’s party without a direct election, following the resignation of Katalin Novák. While the president’s role in Hungary is largely ceremonial, it includes powers such as signing legislation into law and referring laws to the constitutional court.

After a meeting with Sulyok at the presidential Sandor Palace, Márki-Zay said the president had refused to resign and that the government would immediately start the necessary legislative procedures to remove him. He estimated the constitutional amendment process would take about a month. Márki-Zay criticized Sulyok for failing to defend vulnerable groups and the rule of law, accusing him of silence during Orbán’s tenure when controversial legislation was passed, including bans on LGBTQ pride events and dehumanizing rhetoric against political opponents. “Hungary does not belong to Tamás Sulyok nor to Viktor Orbán. It doesn’t belong to a single party or political system,” Márki-Zay said. He added that the presidency should represent national unity and protect democratic governance.

Sulyok responded that the standoff deepens social divisions and harms Hungary’s international reputation. His office released a statement warning that Márki-Zay’s calls for resignation undermine the constitutional function and authority of the presidency. Sulyok has requested a legal assessment of the dispute from the Venice Commission, a Council of Europe body of legal experts.

The conflict highlights a constitutional clash between the new government and remnants of Orbán’s regime. Orbán’s Fidesz party condemned Márki-Zay’s demand as an “unlawful ultimatum.” Márki-Zay’s government is also proposing a constitutional amendment to limit any prime minister to eight years in power, aiming to prevent Orbán’s return.

The European Union has indicated that reforms by Márki-Zay’s administration could unlock €16.4 billion in frozen funds to Hungary, withheld due to concerns over democratic backsliding under Orbán. The ongoing dispute over the presidency adds uncertainty to the political transition and Hungary’s relationship with the EU.