Tamás Sulyok has officially signed the seventeenth amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law, a legislative act that mandates the immediate conclusion of his tenure as President of the Republic. In a public address shared on Facebook, the outgoing head of state condemned the constitutional amendment as both unprecedented and shameful. He characterized the provision forcing his resignation as a forced fix, comparing it to a Gordian knot that will serve as a grave historical example of the abuse of political power.
The outgoing president offered sharp criticism of the legislation, labeling it an open attack on the independence of institutions and the rule of law, while also describing it as an unprecedented restriction of suffrage. Despite his strong opposition, Sulyok acknowledged that refusing to sign the amendment would be unlawful. He explained that his signature serves as the final seal of his presidential obligations and a demonstration of his unconditional respect for the institution of the presidency. He maintained that he has consistently observed the Fundamental Law throughout his term, but noted that his signature will stand as lasting proof that the core values of a free society—including democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers—have been trampled underfoot for political gain. He emphasized that the exclusive responsibility for this decision lies with the power that amended the constitution.
Under the terms of the new law, the mandate of the incumbent President of the Republic expires on the day after the amendment enters into force. From that moment until a new head of state is elected, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ágnes Forsthoffer, will serve as interim president. Parliament is tasked with electing a new head of state within a period not exceeding five years, or until a new constitution enters into force. The amendment was adopted by parliament on 13 July with 139 votes in favor and 6 against, with no abstentions. The bill was submitted by Prime Minister Péter Magyar on behalf of the government, while the Fidesz and KDNP parliamentary groups boycotted the session.
The seventeenth amendment introduces extensive structural changes, including a 12-year or three-term limit on parliamentary mandates. While this change does not affect current members of parliament, it prevents future candidates from standing for office if they have already served for 12 years or been elected three times. Furthermore, the law establishes a maximum age of 70 for constitutional judges and creates a new National Asset Recovery and Asset Protection Office. This independent office will participate in the administration of justice as a public prosecutor to enforce the state’s criminal claims regarding the recovery of public assets. Its leadership will be elected by a two-thirds majority of parliament for six-year terms.
Significant reforms are also applied to the Constitutional Court. The 15 members of the court will now be elected by a two-thirds majority of parliament for nine-year terms rather than twelve, and their service will terminate upon reaching age 70. This provision impacts the court’s president, Péter Polt, and three other judges. Additionally, the court’s president will henceforth be elected by the members of the Constitutional Court for a three-year term, rather than by parliament. The amendment also restores the review powers of the Constitutional Court, which had been restricted by a 2013 amendment regarding legislation on the central budget, taxes, fees, and social contributions.
The judiciary faces further changes, as the terms for the presidents of the Kúria and the National Judicial Office (OBH) are shortened from nine to six years. Under new procedures, judges may nominate up to three candidates for these posts, from which the President of the Republic will select one for parliamentary election. The amendment also allows for the recall of these officials at the initiative of judges. Furthermore, the law reverses the 2023 Orbán government change that renamed counties to "vármegye," restoring the term "megye," though the former may be used during a transition period until 1 October.
In several areas, the amendment removes the requirement for regulation by cardinal law, meaning rules on the use of the flag, coat of arms, state decorations, the Hungarian National Bank, the State Audit Office, and the National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information can now be amended by a simple majority. However, the land law and the law on the protection of national assets will remain cardinal. Finally, the requirement for the Budget Council to provide prior consent to the state budget is abolished, and the statutory definition of "public money" has been repealed to broaden the scope of interpretation for freedom of information.
