Political Shift in Hungary as Parliament Ousts President
In a significant move, Hungary's parliament has voted to remove President Tamás Sulyok from office. This decision is seen as a reflection of the new political direction under Prime Minister Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party secured a substantial victory in April's elections, ending the long-standing rule of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The Tisza party, leveraging its two-thirds majority, passed the 17th amendment to the constitution, effectively terminating the terms of both President Sulyok and the head of the Constitutional Court, Péter Polt. This development marks a dramatic shift in Hungary's political landscape since the new government assumed power in early May.
Potential Outcomes and Political Repercussions
President Sulyok now faces a critical decision: he can either sign the amendment, which would effectively end his presidency, or refer the matter to the Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Magyar has indicated that should Sulyok choose the latter, impeachment proceedings will be initiated, automatically suspending him from office. Alternatively, Sulyok has the option to resign voluntarily, a move the new government has been advocating to prevent a constitutional crisis.
Members of the opposition Fidesz party, which has now transitioned to a minority status, exited the parliamentary session before the vote. They accused the Tisza party of establishing a dictatorship by enabling the government to arbitrarily dismiss public officials. This stance highlights the ongoing tensions and the stark division between the two political factions.
Reflecting on Fidesz's Legacy
Péter Rona, a former opposition presidential candidate, commented on the irony of the situation, noting that Fidesz is now experiencing the consequences of its own governance strategy. The 2011 constitution, crafted during Orbán's tenure, embodied the principle that "the winner takes all." Throughout its time in office from 2010 to 2026, Fidesz reshaped state institutions, populating them with party loyalists, a strategy facilitated by its own two-thirds majority.
As the vote results were announced, the 141 Tisza deputies celebrated with a standing ovation. The constitutional amendment also includes provisions to dismiss Constitutional Court judges over the age of 70 and prevents parliamentary deputies with three terms from standing for election again. This latter measure affects over half of the current Fidesz deputies.
Voices from the Legal Community
András Baka, a former head of the Supreme Court, expressed support for the removal of the president, arguing that Hungary was governed by the rule of law from 1989 to 2010. He criticized Fidesz for capturing state institutions and crafting an authoritarian regime designed to endure electoral defeats. However, Baka disagreed with the amendment's restriction on term-limited deputies, viewing it as a limitation on the public's electoral rights.
In the aftermath of the April election, Fidesz has been grappling with its unexpected defeat. Viktor Orbán, who has been largely absent from public view, chose not to take his parliamentary seat and instead left Hungary to attend the World Cup finals in the United States. His absence has fueled discontent within his party, leading to the resignation of Gergely Gulyás, Fidesz's second-in-command, as head of its parliamentary group.
Source: Original Article
