Hungary to begin constitutional reform process this autumn

The Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that the process of drafting a new constitution will begin this autumn. The initiative, which was a key promise by Péter Magyar, aims to involve various state, parliamentary, professional, and social stakeholders. The Prime Minister’s Office stated that the framework for this process will be presented to the National Assembly jointly by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Justice.

The government intends for the drafting process to be a long-term, public endeavor characterized by broad social participation, with the goal of ensuring the new constitution belongs to the entire nation rather than a single political party. To achieve this, the government plans to provide both in-person and online opportunities for consultation and intends to offer opposition parties meaningful opportunities to present their views. The process is expected to culminate in a referendum to ratify the final document.

Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, Bálint Ruff, indicated that the upcoming social consultations may address fundamental structural questions, including the future of the local government system. Discussions could involve the necessity and specific roles of county-level municipalities, as well as the decision-making powers of mayors and local councils. While municipal associations have already prepared reform proposals, the government's specific plans for the local government system remain to be fully clarified.