Hungary’s main opposition party, Fidesz, has sharply condemned the government’s proposed 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law, with parliamentary group leader Gergely Gulyás describing it as “the end of constitutional democracy and the beginning of authoritarian rule in Hungary.”
The statement came on Saturday afternoon after Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that his government had formally submitted the constitutional amendment to Parliament.
Gulyás: ‘This is not simply crossing a line’
In a Facebook post, Gulyás argued that the proposed amendment would remove President Tamás Sulyok from office for political reasons despite his legally valid constitutional mandate. He also claimed the proposal would effectively “decapitate the Constitutional Court”, restrict democratic elections and prevent more than half of the current opposition MPs from standing in future elections.
“This is not simply crossing a line,” Gulyás wrote.
According to the Fidesz politician, if Parliament can remove the president, reshape the Constitutional Court and limit the parliamentary opposition in this way, “then from now on, anything can be done to anyone in Hungary.”
Fidesz compares proposal with previous governments
Gulyás noted that Hungary is currently in its tenth parliamentary term since the democratic transition and that governments have held a two-thirds constitutional majority on six occasions. He argued that no previous government had attempted to remove a sitting president, dismiss Constitutional Court judges or prevent opposition politicians from participating in democratic elections.
“This is not merely a violation of the rule of law: it is its end,” he said.
Breaking: Magyar government files sweeping constitutional reform to remove President
Fidesz to discuss response on Monday
Gulyás announced that the Fidesz parliamentary group will meet on Monday to discuss possible responses to what the party describes as a constitutional crisis. The proposed constitutional amendment has already caused political debate. Supporters of the government argue the changes are necessary to fulfil promises made before the election and to reform state institutions, while critics, including former President János Áder, have warned that the proposal could undermine Hungary’s constitutional order.
If you missed it: PM Magyar publishes drone video of former President Áder’s residence after heated exchange
These are the very people who called the former regime a tyranny, dictatorship, and an autocracy.
After the beer bash on election eve indulged in by a million Hungarian youth who never voted before, partying on the banks of the Danube, the most enthusiastic will awaken possibly sobered up.
Or as a smarter man than any of us said: Intelligence has limits. Stupidity does not.
I write this from the USA as we celebrate 250 years of freedom from tyranny, dictatorship, and autocracy, spewing out the surprising and factual truth every day:
https://andrewgbenjamin.substack.com/p/on-july-5th-america-is-still-the
Andrew Benjamin.
You have FAVOUR of living in a Dictatorship ?
Hungary, in the “era” of (20) twenty plus years under the Prime Ministership of the “ill-fated” – Victor Mihaly. Orban and his “heinous” Fidesz Government – humiliated, voted out of office, out of power – that had “attached” aggressively with effectiveness – the practice conduct of Hungary under DEMOCRACY – the distillation of Democracy in Hungary.
Victor Mihaly. Orban – he with his Fidesz Government “moved” replaced DEMOCRACY – replacing the Political functionality of Hungary in resemblance muchly to that of a Dictatorship regime, that was growing in likeness to being Communism.
Orban/Fidesz – had but (2) two countrys of relationship & friendship and they being – Russia and China that are under Dictatorship and Governed under Communism.
Orban/Fidesz = had NO right as a “supposed” Government under Democracy to ;
(1) – control the press.
(2) – control the Judiciary.
(3) – rule by decree.
Victor Mihaly. Orban and his Fidesz Government – when THROWN out of office, had DESTROYED all friendships and relationships with N.A.T.O. – the European Union and ALL global countrys that are Governed or that RESPECT = DEMOCRACY.
Victor. Mihaly. Orban and his Fidesz Government – DESTROYED – trust & respect in the name of our country, the proud and historical name – Hungary.
Hungary – in the decades from 19th June 1989 – research that day I say to Andrew Benjamin – the Hebrew explanation of the name Benjamin being “son of the right hand” or “son of the south” – for it may educate you, as history NEVER lies, the “tyrant” he became acted and played out on the people of Hungary in his Prime Ministership & Political life in and on – Hungary.
Orban – lied, fabricated TRUTH to us and led a Government that STOLE from us, that when we OUTED him and his “regime” – as a country left resembling that of a Financial and Economic MESS – in CHAOS.
Hungarians deserve Justice.
We will seek Justice – that being again a country under a new Government that has returned to practice under DEMOCRACY and of DIALOGUE with the people of Hungary – putting people first and what’s best for Hungary second – we WILL seek Justice on the former Government from Victor Mihaly. Orban right down and through ALL those of membership and in support of the DISGRACED political name of Fidesz inclusive of there Oligarchy.
Hungary = we through – Greed, Selfishness in being Abused and Lied to – we will seek justice to reclaim RIGHTFULLY what, over the course of (20) twenty years – was STOLEN from us individually as Hungarians and as a country.
Haha. Freedom from tyranny, dictatorship, autocracy? You must be a MAGA Republican!
Let’s wait and see.
If I remember well
When Orban became Premier he had to find a way to change the members of the Constitutional court ( or what’s its name) who all had been appointed by the Communist Party.
It’s all tyranny when you change the constitution except when Fidesz does it. Fidesz made changes to ensure that they had ways of blocking any new government if they were ever defeated in an election. Of course, they are kicking and screaming because the new government has the two-thirds majority that allows them to unwind Fidesz control such as with the presidency, the Consitutional Court and with the number foundations they created with public funding that they still control outside of the reach of government. Having a two-term limit on prime ministers applies to everyone and is a good tool to prevent dictatorship without end.
Wer wohl begründete eine masslose Autokratie in Ungarn, gepart mit einer schamlosen Ausplünderung der Nation?
Wer veränderte sämtliche Institutionen (Verfassung, Verfassungsgericht, Gesetze, etc. etc.), so zu eigenen Gunsten, dass man praktisch “unabwählbar” wurde.
Es Orban mit seinem Fidesz, also genau die Leute, die nun lauthals Ztermordio schreien und sich beklagen.
Dazu kann man nur eines sagen: Haltet die Schnauze und freut euch über jeden Tag, den Ihr all eurer Schandtaten zum Trotz NOCH in Freiheit verbringen dürft!
Gergely loeves to be humilated 😂😂😂
This is the “New” Fidesz? Smells a lot like the “Old, Worn Out, Autocratic” Fidesz to me. Let’s see. They (Fidesz) removed the word “Republic” from Hungary’s name immediately after I became a citizen of the Republic of Hungary the first day of January 2012. While Article B (2) remained, the republic did not. By the time Fidesz was relegated to the back seat, they had changed the Constitution 14 more times. They ruled Hungary by decree for over 6 years, milked the Hungarian and EU cows completely dry, betrayed Hungary’s allies and economic partners, institutionalized corruption on a grand scale and projected their twisted image of Hungary through their propaganda machine to the point that it induced gut wrenching nausea upon the general population. Until Fidesz faces the music, and I mean the entire tune, there is no “New” Fidesz. Their constant whining about the new government is landing on totally deaf ears, and all the “hoopla” about a “New” Fidesz is a fairy tale.