Hungary faces constitutional amendment controversy amid opposition and legal challenges

The Hungarian government drafted a constitutional amendment that entered public consultation on June 22, with feedback possible until June 27. The proposal was formally submitted on July 4 and scheduled as the first agenda item for an extraordinary parliamentary session on July 6, where the Justice Minister led a lengthy debate.

Opposition parties criticize the amendment as a tool for further centralising power and question its compliance with EU law and constitutional procedural requirements. President Katalin Sulyok could refuse to promulgate the law and refer it to the Constitutional Court if she deems the process unconstitutional. The deadline for the first group of constitutional judges' mandates is approaching, adding urgency to the dispute, and the issue has drawn attention from European institutions.

The amendment, referred to as the 17th amendment by critics, is portrayed by the government as a step toward strengthening the rule of law, while opponents argue it undermines democratic checks and balances.