Hungary’s Parliament Set To Vote On Constitutional Amendment To Remove President (Worthy News Radio)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief reporting from Budapest, Hungary

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary’s parliament was to vote Monday on a constitutional amendment proposed by Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government to remove President Tamás Sulyok from office, a move that has sharply divided the country and prompted protests in the capital.

Prime Minister Magyar argues that President Sulyok should be removed because, in his words, the head of state has become a “puppet” of former prime minister Viktor Orbán.

The proposed constitutional amendment would immediately end Sulyok’s mandate, citing what the government describes as a serious loss of public confidence.

Parliament would then elect a new president to serve until a new constitution takes effect, or for a maximum of five years.

The initiative follows Magyar’s landslide election victory in April, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power.

Magyar says voters gave his government a clear mandate to dismantle what he describes as the previous administration’s remaining power structures.

FIERCE OPPOSITION

The proposal has prompted fierce opposition. Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside Budapest’s Sándor Palace, the official residence of the president, to protest against the planned removal of Sulyok from office, Worthy News witnessed.

Bence Rétvári, parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP), told Worthy News that the amendment would represent an unprecedented constitutional step within the European Union.

“It is a modification of the Hungarian Fundamental Law, and there is no precedent in Europe like this,” Rétvári said. “With one sentence, they throw out the president of the republic. It has never happened in the European Union.”

Rétvári and fellow KDNP lawmakers boycotted Monday’s parliamentary session. Members of Orbán’s Fidesz party also stayed away, instead laying flowers at the grave of József Antall, Hungary’s first democratically elected prime minister after the fall of communism.

APPROVAL EXPECTED

Despite the boycott, Magyar said parliament was expected to approve the amendment.

He warned that if President Sulyok refuses to sign the legislation within five days, impeachment proceedings would begin.

Although Hungary’s president has a largely ceremonial role, the office has important constitutional responsibilities, including the authority to return legislation to parliament or refer laws to the Constitutional Court for review.
The president also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Magyar maintains that Sulyok failed to exercise those responsibilities adequately during several controversies under the previous government.

Backed by a two-thirds parliamentary majority, Magyar’s Tisza Party has the votes needed to amend the constitution.

ANTI-CORRUPTION OFFICE

The government has also proposed establishing a National Asset Protection and Recovery Office to investigate alleged corruption during the Orbán administration, allegations the former prime minister has denied.

In addition, the government recently suspended news broadcasts on Hungary’s public television and radio services, saying the measure forms part of wider reforms aimed at making public media politically independent.

Supporters of the reforms say they are needed to restore democratic accountability after years of Orbán’s rule.

Critics, however, argue that the sweeping constitutional changes and rapid institutional reforms risk weakening Hungary’s system of checks and balances by concentrating too much power in the hands of the parliamentary majority.

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