Opponents of the Hungarian government's efforts to oust President Tamás Sulyok gathered for a protest in Budapest on Thursday, called to action by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The demonstration drew several thousand people to presidential offices at the opulent Sándor Palace in the Castle District, where demonstrators spoke out against constitutional amendment plans by new Prime Minister Péter Magyar that would end Sulyok's term.
The political crisis represents a sharp break from Orbán's 16-year grip on power after Magyar defeated him decisively in April elections. Since taking office in May, Magyar has moved quickly to dismantle what he calls Orbán's "mafia" system by removing political appointees and institutional heads accused of facilitating the former government's autocratic governance.
What the Left Is Saying
Prime Minister Magyar and his supporters argue that President Sulyok failed to fulfill his constitutional duty as a check on antidemocratic actions during Orbán's tenure. Magyar promised repeatedly during the election campaign to remove Sulyok, pointing to his party's two-thirds parliamentary majority as a clear mandate from voters to pursue that goal.
Supporters of the new government say the constitutional amendment represents legitimate democratic reform rather than power consolidation. The amendment would also set term limits for members of parliament, implement judicial reforms, and create a new authority tasked with uncovering alleged financial abuses by Orbán's administration. Krisztina Nemerkényi, a protest attendee who opposes the removal effort, said the demonstration was about defending institutional norms. "The point is not whether Tamás Sulyok is popular or not, but that this is simply unacceptable in a democracy," she told reporters.
Magyar's government has also suspended Hungary's public television and radio news service, which it characterizes as a "propaganda factory" for Orbán's Fidesz party. The new administration successfully unlocked 16.4 billion euros (approximately $19 billion) in frozen European Union funds by enacting rapid reforms to address democratic backsliding under the previous government.
What the Right Is Saying
Former Prime Minister Orbán and his far-right Fidesz party have declared that the effort to remove Sulyok constitutes an assault on rule of law and represents "the first steps toward a dictatorship." The protest, titled "Stop Tyranny," was vigorously promoted by Orbán on social media although he did not attend in person.
János Pócs, a Fidesz lawmaker speaking at the demonstration, defended his party's extensive use of constitutional amendments during its 15 changes to the document it unilaterally authored in 2011. "We always acted in the interest of the country, in order to protect the country, but not for the sake of dictatorship," Pócs told The Associated Press.
Fidesz officials argue that using a two-thirds parliamentary majority to remove a sitting president sets a dangerous precedent and undermines democratic stability. While Sulyok holds mostly ceremonial powers as president, he is responsible for signing legislation into law and can send bills to the constitutional court for review—powers his opponents fear he could use to obstruct the new government's reform agenda.
What the Numbers Show
Magyar's Tisza Party secured a two-thirds supermajority in parliament during April's elections—a margin sufficient to pass constitutional amendments without opposition support. The victory ended Orbán's 16-year reign over Hungarian politics. The EU had frozen approximately $19 billion in funding to Hungary due to concerns about democratic backsliding under Fidesz governance; Magyar's government successfully unfroze these funds after implementing judicial and anti-corruption reforms within weeks of taking office.
The constitutional amendment vote is scheduled for next week, where the two-thirds majority gives Tisza a clear path to removing Sulyok from office. Public opinion surveys in Hungary have shown mixed views on both the new government's reform agenda and Fidesz's continued opposition efforts since April's electoral defeat.
The Bottom Line
The protest demonstrates that Orbán and Fidesz retain significant grassroots support even after their electoral defeat, though the party has struggled to mount effective opposition. The constitutional amendment vote next week will test whether Magyar can execute his promised reforms or faces obstacles from an active political opposition. International observers, particularly in Brussels, are watching closely given Hungary's recent reintegration into EU funding structures. How Sulyok responds to potential removal—and whether he utilizes his remaining presidential powers before leaving office—remains a developing aspect of this ongoing political transition.