Hungary’s parliament has approved a constitutional amendment to remove President Tamas Sulyok from his largely ceremonial position, marking the latest move to dismantle the influence of figures associated with former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The measure, passed on Monday with 139 votes in favour and just six against, would bring an immediate end to Sulyok’s term in office and pave the way for parliament to elect a new president.
Fallout From Orban’s Election Defeat
Hungarians voted out the right-wing nationalist Orban in April, with new Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza Party winning in a landslide victory that ended 16 years of dominance by Orban’s Fidesz party.
Since taking power, Magyar has moved to erode Fidesz’s remaining influence, including through the removal of the current president. The constitutional amendment also introduces a series of judicial reforms, establishes a body to investigate alleged financial abuses under the previous government, and imposes a 12-year term limit on lawmakers.
Sulyok Given Five Days to Sign
Sulyok now has five days to sign the constitutional amendment passed by parliament. Magyar has warned that if he fails to do so, parliament will launch an impeachment procedure against him.
