🔥 Trending Hungarian National Assembly Votes to Oust President

Hungarian Parliament Approves Major Constitutional Amendment, Ousting President

On Monday evening, July 13, 2026, the Hungarian Parliament approved the 17th amendment to the country's Fundamental Law, a significant constitutional overhaul initiated by Prime Minister Péter Magyar's Tisza party ¹³⁴. This amendment, passed with 139 votes in favor and 6 against, includes the immediate removal of President Tamás Sulyok and Constitutional Court President Péter Polt from their positions ⁴⁵⁶.

Background and Context

This move is part of a broader effort by Prime Minister Magyar to "turn the page on over a decade of rule" by the previous administration ⁵. Magyar, who submitted the amendment three weeks prior under the name "Operation Cleansing Fire," has publicly stated that President Sulyok was a "puppet" of the former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ⁴⁹. The Fidesz and KDNP factions, previously allied with Orbán, boycotted both the parliamentary session and the vote ⁴.

Key Provisions of the Amendment

The 17th amendment introduces several far-reaching changes to Hungary's Fundamental Law. While the full scope of the amendment is extensive, its most immediate and impactful provisions include:

• Ousting of the President: The amendment explicitly ends the mandate of the current President, Tamás Sulyok, on the day the law comes into effect ⁶. This effectively removes a figure perceived as loyal to the previous Orbán government ⁴⁵¹⁰.
• Removal of Constitutional Court President: Alongside the President, the head of the Constitutional Court, Péter Polt, is also sent into retirement as a result of this constitutional change ⁴⁵.
• Constitutional Overhaul: This is described as one of the most significant constitutional overhauls since the new Tisza-led government took office, aiming to reshape the country's governance structure ¹.

Political Implications

Prime Minister Péter Magyar emphasized that the National Assembly acted on the will of the voters by adopting this amendment ³⁸. The move is widely seen as a decisive step by the new government to consolidate power and dismantle the influence of the previous administration ⁵¹⁰. The boycott by Fidesz and KDNP highlights the political divisions surrounding these changes ⁴.

This constitutional amendment marks a pivotal moment in Hungarian politics, signaling a clear shift in power and a reorientation of the country's political landscape ¹².