Hungary passes constitutional amendment to remove Orbán-era president
10 reported
Hungary's Parliament voted Monday to pass a constitutional amendment aimed at removing President Tamás Sulyok, part of an effort by the country's new leadership to dismantle the political system of former prime minister Viktor Orbán. Prime Minister Péter Magyar and his pro-European, center-right Tisza party hold a two-thirds majority in Parliament after winning a landslide election in April, allowing them to make constitutional changes. The amendment, which had the stated purpose of “restoring rule-of-law democracy,” passed with 139 votes for and six against. Tisza lawmakers held a standing ovation after the vote, while lawmakers from Orbán's Fidesz party boycotted the parliamentary session. Magyar has argued Sulyok failed to live up to his role as president by neglecting to stand in the way of antidemocratic steps by Orbán’s government. Fidesz has argued the new constitutional amendment is an “unprecedented” assault on Hungary’s democratic order. Sulyok has five days to sign the amendment into law; if he does not, Tisza has vowed to launch an impeachment procedure against him.
What’s reported
Hungary's Parliament passed a constitutional amendment aimed at removing President Tamás Sulyok.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar and his Tisza party hold a two-thirds majority after winning a landslide election in April.
The amendment passed with 139 votes for and six against.
Tisza lawmakers held a standing ovation; Fidesz lawmakers boycotted the session.
Magyar argued Sulyok failed to stand in the way of antidemocratic steps by Orbán’s government.
Fidesz called the amendment an “unprecedented” assault on Hungary’s democratic order.
Sulyok has five days to sign the amendment; if not, Tisza will launch impeachment proceedings.
The amendment also implements judiciary reforms and creates a new authority to investigate alleged financial abuses by Orbán’s government.
Fidesz caucus leader Gergely Gulyás said the amendment “breaks up the legal system, undermines the rule of law and restricts democracy.”
Gulyás announced he would resign as caucus leader due to 12-year term limits for lawmakers included in the amendment.
Key figures
Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary
Viktor Orbán, former prime minister
Péter Magyar, Prime Minister
Gergely Gulyás, Fidesz caucus leader
Sources: abcnews.com
