Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok has sharply criticised the government’s proposed 17th amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law, arguing that the plan to terminate his mandate is incompatible with the principles of the rule of law.
Speaking to the Polish conservative weekly Do Rzeczy, Sulyok said the proposal announced by Prime Minister Péter Magyar would end the current president’s term through a constitutional amendment that targets a specific individual rather than the office itself.
“I have no reason to resign, and the prime minister has so far failed to identify any constitutional grounds for removing me,” Sulyok said.
“A law written for one person”
The president argued that the proposed amendment deals with his removal “in a single sentence” and explicitly refers to the current President of the Republic, rather than setting out general constitutional rules governing the office.
For that reason, he said, the proposal amounts to legislation aimed at one individual and “cannot under any circumstances be regarded as a solution compatible with the rule of law.” Sulyok added that the constitutional status of the Hungarian president is defined by the Fundamental Law and should not be altered in a way that applies only to the incumbent office-holder.
President rejects accusations of political bias
The president also responded to repeated criticism from the government, which has described him as a “puppet” of the previous administration. Sulyok rejected the accusation, saying he has never been a member of any political party or a politician.
He noted that during previous governments, he exercised his constitutional veto powers when necessary, and since the current administration took office, he has also signed legislation passed by the new parliamentary majority.
He further accused the prime minister of applying a double standard, arguing that the government would likely have no objection if a member of the governing party or even a current minister were elected president in the future.
Read more: Venice Commission ready to examine President Sulyok’s submission urgently after Budapest talks
Warning over concentration of power
Sulyok expressed broader concerns about Hungary’s political direction, saying that an increasing concentration of power is becoming evident. He acknowledged that the governing coalition had received a strong democratic mandate, but warned that having a parliamentary majority does not mean “everything that is technically possible should be done.”
According to the president, any constitutional reform (including discussions on drafting a new constitution or redefining the presidency) must respect the core principles of the rule of law and fundamental European democratic values.
Background to the dispute
The constitutional clash follows the government’s announcement of a package of constitutional reforms that would remove several senior public office-holders, including the president. The government has repeatedly argued that Sulyok is unfit to remain in office, accusing him of failing to act on issues of public importance and portraying him as too closely linked to the previous administration. After earlier calls for his resignation were rejected, the government submitted the proposed 17th constitutional amendment, which would end his current mandate if adopted by Parliament.
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I’m looking forward to Sulyok’s physical removal from his office where they pack his belongings in boxes and escort him with his boxes to the sidewalk.