Hungary’s National Assembly convened on Monday for a politically charged session dominated by debate over the government’s proposed constitutional amendment, while the opposition Fidesz and Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) parliamentary groups stayed away from the proceedings.
PM Magyar defended his minister
Magyar spoke out in support of Vilmos Kátai-Németh in his remarks before the agenda. Fidesz influencer Róbert Ábrahám called Kátai-Németh, Minister of Social and Family Affairs a “snarling blind man.”
Magyar’s voice trembled as he praised the minister from the podium. He then went on to say that there are more than 82,000 blind or visually impaired people living in the country, and asked what message such mockery and condescension sends to them.
As the prime minister highlighted in the end, no one should have to fear that the state will treat them as “other” because of their political views, nor will they be mocked.
Fidesz and KDNP boycott Monday’s parliamentary sitting
Before the plenary session, the two opposition parties decided to boycott the entire sitting in protest against the proposed changes to the Fundamental Law.
At the same time, Gergely Gulyás announced that he was stepping down as leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group. Explaining his decision, Gulyás said the planned constitutional amendment would create an unprecedented situation in which the country’s largest opposition party could no longer be led by someone who, under the amended constitutional framework, would not be eligible to hold that position in a public law sense.
He added that Fidesz should instead be led by a politician who would be able to contest the next parliamentary election.
Constitutional amendment puts President Sulyok’s future in focus
The constitutional amendment under debate would also have major implications for President Tamás Sulyok. If adopted, the amendment would terminate the president’s current mandate. Under Hungary’s constitutional procedures, however, Sulyok would still be required to sign the amendment into law.
Should he fail to do so within five days, Parliament could begin proceedings to remove him from office. The issue has triggered an increasingly public dispute between Prime Minister Péter Magyar and figures within Fidesz in recent days.
Prime Minister accuses president of serving Fidesz interests
Addressing Parliament before the day’s agenda, Prime Minister Péter Magyar launched a sharp attack on President Sulyok, arguing that he had consistently prioritised Fidesz’s political interests over constitutional principles.
Magyar told lawmakers that “every Hungarian knows” the president had repeatedly sided with Fidesz whenever he had to choose between constitutional considerations and the party’s interests, quoted 444.
According to the prime minister, Monday’s vote would determine whether Hungary continued to protect appointments and institutional safeguards inherited from the Orbán era or whether the state returned to serving the Hungarian people.
He also criticised Sulyok for not attending the parliamentary debate, arguing that the president should have appeared before MPs to defend his record and explain how he had fulfilled the office.
Dispute over presidential powers
Magyar also addressed the legal options available to the president once Parliament approves the amendment. He argued that Sulyok could only refer the legislation to the Constitutional Court if procedural irregularities existed and could not request a substantive constitutional review under the current legal framework.
The prime minister accused the president of attempting to delay the process, alleging that Sulyok was acting on instructions from former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in order to buy time for political manoeuvring.
Magyar urged the president not to “play with Hungary’s constitutional order” or allow what he described as any “sabotage action” against the country’s legal system.
Personal criticism directed at Gergely Gulyás
During his speech, Magyar also addressed the outgoing Fidesz parliamentary leader directly. Declaring that Gulyás had become “a free man” after resigning from his post, the prime minister invited him to accompany him on visits to people whom he claimed had suffered under previous Fidesz governments.
Magyar said that only after speaking to those affected should Gulyás return to Parliament and describe himself as protesting against authoritarianism.
President rejects allegations in Facebook statement
While Parliament was in session, President Sulyok responded through a statement published on Facebook. The president rejected what he described as the prime minister’s false accusations regarding the exercise of his constitutional powers in connection with the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law.
According to the statement, the allegations were intended to manipulate public opinion and exert pressure on the president’s independent constitutional decision-making.
The presidency also argued that any attempt by members of the executive branch to influence the president’s constitutional powers through manipulation, threats or other means would seriously undermine Hungary’s constitutional order.
Stay up-to-date: ‘We are dismantling a regime, not persecuting people’ — Hungarian minister defends constitutional changes
Prime Minister predicts new president within weeks
Responding to Sulyok’s statement, Magyar reiterated that the president should appear before Parliament instead of communicating through social media. He insisted he was fully aware of the president’s constitutional powers and repeated that Sulyok had five days to sign the amendment once adopted.
“If he does not do so, Hungarians will know exactly why,” Magyar said. The prime minister concluded by predicting that, regardless of any delays, Hungary would have a new president “within a few weeks.”
Read also: Pulling back the curtain — did 12 April really mark a change of regime?
