Hungary parliament to vote on 17th constitutional amendment that could oust President Tamás Sulyok

The Hungarian parliament has scheduled an extraordinary two‑day session to consider the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law. The draft amendment would terminate the mandate of President Tamás Sulyok the day after it takes effect and gives him a five‑day deadline to sign it; if he refuses, a removal procedure can be launched with a two‑thirds parliamentary majority. Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced the five‑day ultimatum on Facebook and said the amendment also contains measures such as limiting MPs’ terms, creating a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, and altering the Constitutional Court’s powers. The government claims the changes will restore constitutional democracy, while opposition parties and legal experts warn they concentrate power, breach the rule of law and threaten democratic checks and balances. President Sulyok issued a statement that the proposal “seriously violates the rule of law, democracy and the principle of separation of powers.” The debate has been accompanied by criticism of the president’s recent 12‑day U.S. trip, which the prime minister described as a costly “official” visit with little diplomatic substance. Demonstrations are planned in Budapest in response to the amendment.