Hungary Parliament Votes 139-6 to Remove President Tamas Sulyok

Hungary’s Parliament voted 139 to 6 on July 13 to pass the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law, removing President Tamas Sulyok from office. The amendment introduces judicial reforms, creates a new office to investigate financial abuses from the Orban era, and imposes a 12-year term limit on lawmakers.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar and his Tisza party, which holds a two-thirds majority after winning a landslide election in April 2026, led the vote.

Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party boycotted the session. Magyar stated that Sulyok failed to check antidemocratic actions during Orban’s 16 years in power and that the election victory gives his party a mandate to remove the president. The Hungarian presidency is largely ceremonial but holds the power to sign legislation and refer bills to the Constitutional Court.

Sulyok has five days from July 13 to sign the amendment into law. Tisza has stated it will launch impeachment proceedings if he refuses. If removed, Parliament will elect a new president. Magyar’s government, in office since May 2026, has removed political appointees, suspended state television’s news service, and closed the Sovereignty Protection Office.

Fidesz described the amendment as an “unprecedented” assault on democracy and organized a candlelight vigil outside Parliament on the evening of the vote.