BudaPest, June 2: Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar addressed the failures of President Tamas Szulyok on Monday and proposed a constitutional amendment to remove him from office.
During a press conference outside the Sandor Palace, Magyar stated, “Just as Viktor Orban has abandoned the people of Hungary, Tamas Szulyok has abandoned the Hungarian Republic.” Szulyok was appointed by Orban himself.
He emphasized the importance of the presidential office, stating, “The office of the Republic’s President is more crucial and powerful than that of any country’s leader. It is in Hungary’s interest that the presidency regains the authority that has weakened due to its silence, poor decisions, and mistakes in recent years.”
Magyar mentioned that he has informed President Szulyok that if he does not resign voluntarily, he will notify the Tisza members of Parliament about his decision and initiate the necessary procedures immediately.
According to Euro News, this statement followed a meeting with Szulyok. Magyar did not specify what kind of institutional reform the government seeks but clarified that it would not be a law designed for a single individual but rather a framework that could also remove other state leaders from office.
The Hungarian PM expressed his desire for the people to have more rights in electing their president. He stated, “The fundamental law is clear: the Republic’s President represents the unity of the country and safeguards the democratic functioning of the state.” He elaborated on how Szulyok has failed to fulfill that role.
Magyar pointed out that when former PM Viktor Orban discussed bugs, major clean-ups, and a shadow army, Szulyok did not respond. When he asked Szulyok about Orban’s remarks, he was told they were merely political opinions and there was no need to comment on the issue.
Earlier in May, Magyar took an oath as Hungary’s PM after winning a parliamentary vote in the first session of the new National Assembly. According to the Xinhua news agency, out of 199 MPs, 195 voted, with 140 in favor, 54 against, and one abstention.
In his inaugural speech, Magyar stated that the new government received a mandate not just to change the government but to change the system itself, emphasizing reconciliation, democratic renewal, and national unity.