The article reports that Hungary’s new government, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar and his Tisza party after a large election win in April, has announced plans to amend the constitution to remove President Tamás Sulyok. It frames the decision as part of a broader effort to reduce the influence of officials associated with Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power.

Although the presidency is described as mostly ceremonial, the article notes that the president has meaningful powers: signing laws into effect and having the authority to send legislation passed by parliament to the constitutional court for review, which supporters of the new government fear could be used to block or obstruct Magyar’s agenda.

According to the piece, Magyar met with Sulyok at the Sándor Palace and later said the president refused to resign. Magyar then said lawmakers from his party would begin constitutional steps immediately to remove him, estimating the process would take around a month. The prime minister also accused Sulyok of not acting on various issues, including not speaking out when Orbán made dehumanizing statements about political opponents and when the previous government passed legislation banning an LGBTQ+ Pride event.

The article also includes a response from Fidesz, Orbán’s party, with its leader Gergely Gulyás arguing that forcibly removing a president before the end of a term is not conceivable in a constitutional democracy.

Finally, it reports that Sulyok’s office released a statement saying Magyar’s calls for resignation harm the constitutional functioning and authority of the presidency, adding that Sulyok had sought a legal assessment from the Venice Commission