• Hungarian parliament votes to remove President Tamás Sulyok, signaling a shift from the Orbán era.
• The motion passed with 139 votes in favor and only six against, amidst a boycott by the Fidesz party.
• Current Prime Minister Péter Magyar's Tisza party claims the amendment restores "rule-of-law democracy."
• Sulyok has five days to sign the amendment or face impeachment proceedings.
• The reform package introduces judicial changes and a new anti-corruption office.

The Hungarian Parliament voted on July 13, 2026, to remove President Tamás Sulyok from office, a move widely interpreted as part of a broader effort to dismantle the political framework established by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The amendment, backed by Prime Minister Péter Magyar's Tisza party, passed with a significant majority of 139 votes in favor and only six against, while members of Orbán’s Fidesz party staged a walkout in protest, labeling the day a “dark day for Hungarian democracy,” according to BBC, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

This constitutional amendment seeks to not only end Sulyok’s presidency but also initiate judicial reforms and establish an office to investigate financial irregularities from the previous administration. Prime Minister Magyar has accused Sulyok—an appointee of Orbán—of failing to act against purportedly authoritarian measures during his presidency. With the amendment in place, Parliament is set to elect a new president who will oversee a government aiming to "restore rule-of-law democracy," as per statements from Magyar following the vote, according to Channel News Asia and Le Monde.

Sulyok has five days to sign the amendment into law, a requirement that has prompted concerns regarding his intentions, particularly in light of Magyar’s threats of impeachment should Sulyok refuse to act. This urgency underscores the drastic shift in Hungary's political climate following the April election that saw a substantial defeat for Orbán's Fidesz party, which had dominated Hungarian politics for 16 years. The backlash against Sulyok’s presidency embodies the Tisza party's broader campaign to dismantle the entrenched influence of Fidesz, as cited by BBC, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

The amendment is part of a series of reforms aimed not only at changing the presidency but also at instituting a term limit for lawmakers, enforcing new judicial oversight, and tackling alleged financial corruption under the previous regime. Magyar's government has characterized these actions as a necessary step toward building a more transparent and accountable government, which they argue was compromised during Orbán's tenure. This development highlights a significant pivot in Hungary’s governance, reflecting the electorate's demand for change, according to Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.