Hungary's Parliament Ousts President Tamás Sulyok

Hungary’s parliament voted to oust President Tamás Sulyok, an ally of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who lost power in April 2023 after 16 years. The ruling Tisza Party utilized its two-thirds majority to pass the 17th constitutional amendment, terminating Sulyok's and Constitutional Court President Péter Polt's terms.

This parliamentary session was the most dramatic since the new government took office in May 2023, following a landslide victory over Orbán’s Fidesz Party. Sulyok has five days to either approve the amendment, ending his tenure, or refer it to the Constitutional Court.

If he challenges it, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has threatened impeachment proceedings. The amendment also mandates that Constitutional Court judges aged 70 and above retire and prevents lawmakers who have served three terms from re-election, impacting many Fidesz legislators.

Opposition Fidesz Party members walked out, claiming the amendment grants excessive powers to the government.