Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok has resigned immediately after signing a constitutional amendment passed by Prime Minister Peter Magyar's ruling Tisza party.
The legislation explicitly cites a serious loss of public confidence in Sulyok, according to The Guardian.
Sulyok, a former constitutional court judge, was elected in early 2024 by lawmakers from former Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist Fidesz party.
He stated he had no choice but to ratify the legislation since it respected the letter of the law, but cautioned that the reform has compromised the rule of law in Hungary.
“The seventeenth amendment to the constitution has marked a watershed in Hungary’s constitutional democracy,” Sulyok said.
“By removing public office holders in a manner that openly violates the rule of law… it sets a negative precedent that inflicts a deep wound on the constitutional values of democracy, the separation of powers, and the rule of law.”
The legislative change is part of Magyar's broader campaign to dismantle Orban's power structures, following the defeat of the right-wing leader in a landslide election in April.
Orban, who has faced criticism for weakening democratic institutions during his 16 years in power, voiced opposition to the reforms on Facebook, expressing that tyranny is no longer a threat but a reality.
Following the April election defeat, Fidesz has experienced a series of high-profile resignations along with a decline in public support.
Magyar's centre-right Tisza party now holds a two-thirds majority in parliament, granting it the power to change laws.
Parliament will now elect a new president who will serve until a new constitution takes effect or for a maximum of five years.
Magyar announced that Parliament Speaker Agnes Forsthoffer will assume the role of interim president starting Monday.
Magyar shared on Facebook that these decisions restore what the Orban regime took from the Hungarian people, emphasizing the certainty that power can be constrained and public assets recovered.
According to Reuters, the amendment also establishes a 12-year term limit on lawmakers and sets a retirement age of 70 for constitutional court judges, forcing the court's current president and Orban ally, Peter Polt, to retire.
Prior to the resignation, Magyar had consistently called on Sulyok to step down, accusing him of failing to represent national unity and serving Orban's interests.
