In Hungary, a heated political battle is unfolding, with the country's new center-right government led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar taking aim at the remnants of Viktor Orbán's autocratic regime. The latest flashpoint is the government's push to remove President Tamás Sulyok, an Orbán-era appointee, through a constitutional amendment. This move has sparked a wave of protests, with opponents rallying in Budapest to defend the office of the presidency and the democratic norms it represents.
Magyar's government, having secured a two-thirds majority in parliament, argues that Sulyok's failure to stand against Orbán's antidemocratic measures warrants his removal. The president's ceremonial role, including signing legislation and sending bills to the constitutional court, has raised concerns among supporters of the new government. They fear that Sulyok, as an Orbán-era appointee, might use these powers to obstruct the government's agenda.
The constitutional amendment, set to go to a vote next week, would not only end Sulyok's term but also set term limits for members of parliament, implement reforms to the judiciary, and create a new authority to investigate financial abuses by Orbán's government. Orbán and his far-right Fidesz party, however, view this as an assault on the rule of law and democratic norms, and a clear step toward a dictatorship.
One protester, Krisztina Nemerkényi, emphasized the demonstration's focus on the office of the presidency rather than the person of Sulyok. She argued that the point is not about popularity but about the unacceptable nature of such actions in a democracy. Magyar's government has also taken swift action to fulfill other campaign promises, such as suspending the news service of Hungary's public television and radio, which they labeled as a propaganda factory for Orbán's party.
The protests, titled "Stop Tyranny," have been vigorously promoted by Orbán on social media, though he did not attend. Fidesz, the party that organized the demonstration, has been struggling to recover from its major election defeat in April. Despite their past actions, Fidesz lawmaker János Pócs claimed that their constitutional amendments have always been in the country's interest, not for the sake of dictatorship.
The government's actions, including the removal of political appointees and heads of institutions, are seen as a dismantling of Orbán's "mafia." They have also implemented an 8-year term limit for prime ministers and secured European Union funds by enacting rapid reforms to roll back democratic backsliding. However, the ongoing political tensions and protests highlight the challenges of transitioning from an autocratic regime to a more democratic and transparent system in Hungary.
