Hungarian Parliament Ousts President Amid Orban's Outrage Over Democracy's Demise

The Hungarian Parliament approved a constitutional amendment on Monday to immediately remove President Tamás Sólyom from office. This move is part of Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy's effort to dismantle the authoritarian system established by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during his 16-year tenure. Medgyessy, who won a historic election victory in April, secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority enabling him to reverse Orbán's anti-democratic measures and purge government loyalists, whom he calls "puppets" of Orbán.

The amendment ends Sólyom's term, which was set to expire in 2024, citing "severe loss of public trust." A new president will be appointed by the current Parliament to serve up to five years or until a new constitution is enacted. Medgyessy plans to launch a major constitutional reform project this fall with public involvement. Sólyom, a former constitutional court judge, insists he is not a politician and refuses to resign, leveraging his limited powers to challenge legislation and potentially slow Medgyessy's reforms.

Following the vote, Medgyessy declared the amendment marks the end of an era and a clear mandate from the Hungarian people to transform the judiciary and government. However, Sólyom has sought legal advice from the Venice Commission, a Council of Europe judicial panel, before signing the amendment. Medgyessy warned that if Sólyom refuses to sign, Parliament will initiate formal impeachment proceedings.

Orbán's party boycotted the vote and condemned the constitutional changes as unprecedented and authoritarian. Orbán, currently in the U.S., defended Sólyom and denounced the removal as illegal, posting on Facebook that Hungarian democracy died in 2026. He warned that the government seeks unchecked power to dismiss officials and seize private businesses, vowing resistance if Sólyom is forcibly removed.

Medgyessy's political overhaul extends beyond constitutional reforms. Last week, he appointed new leadership to state media outlets long accused of serving Orbán's propaganda, temporarily suspending broadcasts to restructure for independence and credibility. Despite media bias during the campaign, Medgyessy managed to win and has since confronted state media for years of misinformation. He denies seeking personal revenge despite attacks on him and his family, calling the state media's previous work a "death throe of a lie factory."