Hungarian PM Péter Magyar threatens constitutional amendment to remove President Tamás Sulyok

Jun 1, 2026

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar is threatening to amend the constitution to oust President Tamás Sulyok, an appointee of former leader Viktor Orbán. After Sulyok refused to meet a resignation deadline, Magyar initiated a month-long legislative process, leveraging his Tisza party's two-thirds parliamentary majority. Sulyok warns of a constitutional crisis, while his largely ceremonial role holds the power to delay Magyar's reforms and access to EU funds.

Magyar-Sulyok constitutional standoff

▪The legislative process to remove President Tamás Sulyok is expected to take approximately one month.
▪Péter Magyar gave President Tamás Sulyok a deadline of May 31 or the preceding Sunday to resign.
▪Péter Magyar has accused President Tamás Sulyok of being a "puppet" for former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
▪Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has threatened to amend the constitution to remove President Tamás Sulyok from office.

Tisza party parliamentary supermajority

▪Péter Magyar's Tisza party won a two-thirds majority in the April 2026 elections, giving it the power to amend the constitution.
▪Péter Magyar's Tisza party has proposed a constitutional amendment to limit any prime minister to eight years in power.

Presidential legislative veto power

▪Reforms by Péter Magyar's new government could lead to the release of €16.4bn in EU funds previously withheld from Hungary.
▪The president can delay or block legislation by referring it back to parliament or to the Constitutional Court.
▪The role of the Hungarian president is largely ceremonial, but includes the power to sign legislation into law.

Orban-era appointee removal plans

▪Péter Magyar has pledged to remove several key officials appointed during Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power.
▪Tamás Sulyok was installed as president in February 2024 by lawmakers from Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party.

Sulyok resignation refusal

▪President Tamás Sulyok's office has requested a legal assessment of the conflict from the Venice Commission, a Council of Europe advisory body.
▪President Tamás Sulyok warned that Péter Magyar's actions could lead to a "constitutional crisis" and damage Hungary's international reputation.
▪Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party described Péter Magyar's demand for the president's resignation as an "unlawful ultimatum."
▪President Tamás Sulyok has repeatedly refused to resign, stating he intends to serve his full five-year term until 2029.