Hungarian president signs constitutional amendment ending his term

Hungarian president signs constitutional amendment ending his term

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok (AP)

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok announced today that he has signed the constitutional amendment passed by the ruling TISZA party, which ends his presidential term.

In a statement, Sulyok said he had no choice but to approve the legislation because he respects the letter of the law, warning—as a former Constitutional Court judge—that the amendment harms the rule of law in his country.

He added, "The 17th amendment to the constitution represents a turning point in Hungary's constitutional democracy, as removing holders of public office in a way that explicitly violates the rule of law sets a negative precedent that deeply wounds constitutional values of democracy, separation of powers, and the rule of law."

This legislation comes as part of new Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's campaign to dismantle the power strongholds held by his predecessor Viktor Orban, which Magyar says he received a strong mandate from voters to carry out after ousting the right-wing leader in last April's elections.

The parliament is expected to elect a new president of the country until a new constitution comes into effect or for a maximum of five years, benefiting from the majority held by the center-right TISZA party, whose two-thirds majority in parliament gives it the power to amend laws.