The Hungarian parliament began to review a package of constitutional amendments that would remove President Tamas Sulyok, an ally of former prime minister Viktor Orban. This 'forceful' approach has drawn concern from several NGOs and advocates for the rule of law.
Since his election on April 12, the new conservative and pro-European prime minister of Hungary, Péter Magyar, has rapidly pushed through reforms aimed at dismantling what he calls "the regime of [nationalist] Viktor Orban." Among these, a package of constitutional amendments stands out as the most sensitive, and began to be reviewed by parliament on Tuesday, July 7. The proposal, which seeks "to restore a democracy based on the rule of law," would remove President Tamas Sulyok, a close ally of Orban whom Magyar regularly refers to as a "puppet" of the previous regime.
"Voters have granted an unprecedented mandate to the National Assembly as a constituent power, to restore democracy," argues the constitutional bill in its preamble, justifying this unusual procedure that could see Sulyok leave office "around July 20," according to Magyar. The legislation, which would end the president's term "the day after it takes effect," could be adopted as early as the week of July 13, thanks to Magyar's overwhelming majority.
"There is no public law justification for my removal," protested Sulyok in an interview published onJuly 5 by Polish conservative newspaper Do Rzeczy, signaling a looming constitutional crisis at the highest levels in this Central European country. "Stop the arbitrariness," Orban also declared, calling on his supporters to demonstrate on July 9 outside the presidential palace on Castle Hill in Budapest. "Even in Istanbul, they burst out laughing when they heard that Fidesz [Orban's party] wanted to demonstrate for constitutionality and democracy," retorted Magyar.
