Uproar as President Faces Impeachment, Could Be Removed if Refuses to Resign
Political tension is mounting in Hungary, with the nation’s President now facing potential removal from office.
According to CNN International on Monday (1/6/2026), a conflict has emerged between Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar and President Tamas Sulyok. Magyar has threatened to pursue legal avenues to dismiss Sulyok should the head of state persist in refusing to resign.
“I have informed the President that if he maintains his position and does not resign, I will present our legislative proposal to the Tisza Party members of Parliament and we will immediately initiate the necessary procedures,” Magyar stated following a meeting with Sulyok on Monday, as reported by CNN International.
Magyar is the leader of the centre-right Tisza Party. He previously defeated Viktor Orban in the elections last April. Since taking office, he has promised to replace several officials appointed during the Orban administration’s 16-year tenure, including the presidency, which is largely a ceremonial role.
According to Magyar, the legislative process to remove Sulyok is expected to take approximately one month. He emphasised that the government will utilise its two-thirds parliamentary majority to amend the constitution to force Sulyok to vacate his position. Magyar also described the move as part of an effort to cleanse state institutions of parties deemed to have contributed to the weakening of the rule of law and democracy during the Orban era.
Conversely, Sulyok has rejected the pressure to resign. The 70-year-old President, who previously served as the President of the Hungarian Supreme Court, believes the government’s plan could trigger a constitutional crisis. “The resulting constitutional crisis will deepen societal divisions and damage the international reputation of Hungarian democracy,” Sulyok wrote via his official Facebook account.
The Fidesz Party, led by Orban, has also condemned Magyar’s actions. They allege that the Prime Minister is issuing an unlawful ultimatum and assert that Sulyok continues to serve a legitimate mandate that remains in effect until 2029.
Sulyok was elected President in early 2024 with majority support from Fidesz members of Parliament. He previously held the position of President of the Supreme Court after being selected by the Fidesz-dominated parliament in 2016. Although the role of the President in Hungary is primarily symbolic, the head of state possesses the authority to return bills to Parliament or refer them to the Constitutional Court. This power could potentially delay or obstruct the reform agenda currently being driven by the Magyar administration.