Hungarian President Says Successor Will Lack Legitimacy

President Tamas Sulyok, who signed the constitutional amendment that paves the way for his removal, has stated that the next president will lack legitimacy because they will replace a head of state dismissed in a manner contrary to constitutional values. In a video message posted on Facebook, Sulyok said the institution of the presidency in Hungary will also lose its primary function as a result of the changes. “The legitimacy of the presidential institution, which has remained unchanged since the political transition, has also been lost because the next head of state will take office after a president is removed in violation of constitutional values,” Sulyok said. According to him, the presidency will become increasingly dependent on the executive branch, while its legal role weakens and its primary function is lost as it will no longer serve as a checks and balances mechanism. Sulyok also acknowledged that although the amendment was adopted in a way he believes contradicts constitutional principles, he had no authority to reject changes to the constitution that had been passed by parliament through a procedure deemed formally valid. Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced that starting 20 July, Speaker of Parliament Agnes Forsthoffer will carry out presidential duties until a new president is elected. According to Magyar, the presidential election is scheduled to take place within 30 days at the latest. Parliament approved the constitutional amendment on Monday, clearing the path for Sulyok’s removal, with 139 votes in favour, six against, and no abstentions. Sulyok was elected under the former government of Viktor Orban and began his five-year term in 2024. Under Hungarian law, he was required to sign the amendment within five days of receiving the text from the Speaker of Parliament. Prime Minister Peter Magyar, whose Tisza party holds a two-thirds majority in parliament, had pledged during the election campaign to replace Sulyok and introduce a mechanism for the direct election of the president by the people. After winning the election, Magyar repeatedly called on Sulyok and other senior officials linked to the previous administration to resign. Sulyok refused and in May sought an opinion from the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe regarding the constitutional dispute and the government’s efforts to remove him from office. In addition to regulating the removal of the president, the amendment also imposes term limits on members of parliament, preventing long-serving legislators from running again in the 2030 general election. Despite the Tisza party’s support for direct presidential elections, parliament is expected to elect Sulyok’s successor under the current mechanism.