Hungary's new PM Magyar initiates impeachment of President Sulyok

Shortly after his landslide victory in the parliamentary elections on April 12, Magyar had already demanded Sulyok's resignation. He justified this by stating that the president did not embody the "unity of the nation" required by the constitution. Sulyok had been a "puppet" of the former ruling Fidesz party, Magyar said verbatim.

Sulyok rejects resignation demand

Tamás Sulyok, who has served as head of state since 2024, was elected by the parliament, then dominated by Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party. In a video message on Sunday evening, a few hours before the ultimatum expired, Sulyok stated that he saw no reason to resign and would remain in office.

Magyar accuses the incumbent president of having remained silent on a long list of unacceptable measures and statements by the Orbán government. Critics had accused the former government of restricting the rule of law, democracy, and media freedom.

Two-thirds majority as a political tool

The TISZA party, led by Magyar, holds a two-thirds majority in the new parliament with 141 out of 199 seats, which is sufficient for constitutional amendments. It replaced Viktor Orbán's right-wing nationalist predecessor government, which had been in power since 2010, in the election. Magyar has been Prime Minister since May 9.

In addition to the president, the new head of government is also calling for the resignation of other high-ranking officials appointed under Orbán. These include the presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court (Kúria), Péter Polt and Zsolt András Varga, as well as the head of the media supervisory authority.

Under current Hungarian law, the impeachment of the president requires the approval of the Constitutional Court. However, the government intends to bypass this route and amend the constitution itself instead. Magyar did not provide details of the planned amendment draft on Monday. He stated that he would first discuss the matter with his TISZA parliamentary group later on Monday.

Speculation about direct presidential election

There is speculation that the TISZA party might change not only the impeachment procedure but also the mode of presidential elections. Currently, the Hungarian head of state is elected by parliament for a five-year term. Magyar had advocated for a direct presidential election by the people during the election campaign, but did not confirm such plans now.

President Sulyok had recently announced that he had commissioned the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, to examine existing constitutional problems. The commission had criticized Viktor Orbán's restructuring of the Hungarian judiciary over several years.

For years, the opposition had accused Orbán of using Fidesz's two-thirds majority to bring courts, authorities, and media under his control. Magyar now appears to be pursuing a radical personnel reset in state institutions with the same constitutional power.

Historical escalation and international dimension

The power struggle between the new Prime Minister and the president appointed by the political opponent marks a historical escalation in Hungary's political system. Such an attempt to oust the head of state through a constitutional amendment is unprecedented in the country's recent history.

Magyar is currently on his inaugural visit to Berlin, where he was received with military honors by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The agenda includes bilateral and European policy issues, as well as further support for Ukraine. A joint press conference is also planned.

Developments in Budapest are being closely watched internationally, as they provide insight into how the new government will deal with the institutional legacy of the Orbán era. The announced constitutional amendment is expected to be detailed in the coming days.