Hungary Advances Controversial Constitutional Amendment to Oust Sitting President Amid Rights Criticism

On April 13, 2026, the Hungarian Parliament approved a constitutional amendment enabling the unprecedented removal of President Tamás Sólyom. This move is spearheaded by Prime Minister Péter Medgyar's newly elected government, which seeks to dismantle power structures established by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Medgyar's party, Fidesz's main rival, secured a significant parliamentary majority in April elections, allowing this bold legislative push.

Medgyar described the amendment as a crucial step to eliminate Orbán's "economic and political mafia," targeting officials, including President Sólyom, appointed by the previous Fidesz-controlled parliament. The legislation is part of Medgyar's broader "Operation Purge," aimed at reducing Fidesz's influence over the judiciary, state institutions, public media, and ostensibly independent bodies. Additional reforms include imposing term limits on parliament members to hinder Orbán's political comeback and reinstating a mandatory retirement age of 70 for Constitutional Court judges, likely leading to the replacement of many judges appointed under Fidesz.

Symbolic actions accompanied the legal changes: the state news channel M1 temporarily ceased broadcasting to apologize for its role as a Fidesz propaganda tool, and the state radio station Kossuth also halted transmissions. The amendment requires the president's signature to take effect, which Sólyom is expected to withhold, potentially triggering a constitutional crisis.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from Orbán supporters and human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch warned that removing the president and Constitutional Court president echoes Fidesz-era tactics, though it acknowledged Medgyar's broad public mandate to restore the rule of law after 16 years of Orbán's governance. The organization emphasized that such sweeping constitutional changes must follow proper procedures and public consultation. Orbán, now outside Hungary and having left parliament, condemned the amendment on Facebook as a "settling of scores" with the president and warned it could extend to others. His supporters labeled the action a "constitutional coup" and urged the European Union and international bodies to intervene.