Hungary's new government moves to remove President Sulyok via constitutional amendment

Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s centre‑right Tisza party, holding a two‑thirds super‑majority in the Hungarian parliament, has drafted a 17th constitutional amendment that would instantly end President Tamás Sulyok’s term and replace him with a parliament‑elected president serving up to five years. The bill also proposes a mandatory retirement age of 70 for Constitutional Court judges, effectively ending the tenure of current court president Péter Polt, and introduces a 12‑year term limit for members of parliament.

Human‑rights organisations, including Amnesty International Hungary and Human Rights Watch, have criticised the rushed process – giving civil society only five days to respond – as lacking due‑process safeguards and contrary to European standards. The government argues the changes are necessary to restore the rule of law after 16 years of Fidesz rule, and has invited experts from the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission to discuss the proposals.