Hungary removes President Tamás Sulyok via 17th constitutional amendment

On 20 July 2026 the Hungarian parliament approved a 17th amendment to the constitution that terminated the mandate of President Tamás Sulyok, introduced a 12‑year limit on parliamentary mandates and set a maximum age of 70 for Constitutional Court judges. Sulyok signed the amendment and his term ended at midnight on 19 July, after which the speaker of the National Assembly, Ágnes Forsthoffer, assumed interim duties.

Following his departure, Sulyok’s final asset declaration was published. It showed personal wealth of about 124 million forints, consisting mainly of real‑estate (partial ownership of two apartments in Szeged, a farm‑holiday home in Domašek, a weekend house on Lake Balaton and a condominium in Budapest’s II district) and financial holdings (state bonds, pension savings, bonds, a 41 million‑forint investment fund, shares and a 9 million‑forint claim). He reported no mortgage, car or other large movable assets.

The amendment has sparked political controversy. Fidesz and KDNP MPs have filed a 40‑page request with the Constitutional Court arguing that the amendment was adopted for a closed group of individuals and violates procedural rules. Amnesty International criticised the accelerated appointment of a new Constitutional Court judge, and government spokesperson Magyar Péter announced that the Tisza Party will propose a non‑political candidate to succeed Sulyok. Various potential successors – including former historian Ignác Romsics, former minister Judit Polgár and others – have been mentioned in the ongoing debate.