In a significant political development in Hungary, Prime Minister Peter Magyar has announced plans to initiate legal proceedings to remove President Tamas Sulyok from office. This move comes after a meeting between the two leaders, where Magyar urged Sulyok to resign. The Prime Minister, representing the center-right Tisza party, accused Sulyok of failing to uphold national unity and serving the interests of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his government.

Background and Context

Peter Magyar’s Tisza party recently achieved a landslide victory in the April elections, unseating Viktor Orban, who had been in power for 16 years. The new administration has pledged to replace several key figures appointed by Orban, including President Sulyok, who was elected by Orban’s Fidesz party in early 2024. Sulyok’s presidency, while largely ceremonial, holds the power to refer laws back to parliament or forward them to the Constitutional Court, potentially hindering Magyar’s reform agenda.

Legal and Political Implications

Magyar has stated that if President Sulyok does not voluntarily step down, he will present legislative proposals to the Tisza lawmakers to begin the removal process. The Prime Minister has emphasized that this process could take about a month and would involve removing individuals he described as “puppets” involved in undermining the rule of law and democracy.

In response, Fidesz has accused Magyar of issuing an “unlawful ultimatum,” asserting that Sulyok is fulfilling his lawful mandate, which extends until 2029. The party maintains that the President cannot be removed from office under the current constitutional framework.

Constitutional Amendments

To achieve his goal, Magyar has indicated he would use his party’s two-thirds parliamentary majority to amend the constitution and other relevant legislation. This move underscores the significant political shift in Hungary and highlights the ongoing tension between the new government and the remnants of Orban’s administration.

Sulyok, who previously served as the head of Hungary’s top court, was also elected to that position by Fidesz in 2016. His role as President, despite being mostly symbolic, has become a focal point in the broader struggle for political control in Hungary.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.