Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok signed the 17th amendment to the country's constitution, effectively ending his presidential term

Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok signed the 17th amendment to the country's constitution, effectively ending his presidential term. Political institutions exist not only to pass laws but also to uphold constitutional principles, even when they conflict with the will of the majority. When a head of state, forced to sign a document he considers flawed, declares that he had no means to resist, it lays bare the fragility of the balance between branches of government. Sulyok's departure was not just a personnel change but a symptom of deep tension between presidential and executive power, where public trust and political expediency collide.

On Saturday, Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok signed the 17th amendment to the constitution, which brought his presidential term to an end. Following the publication of the law in the official gazette, his mandate will cease the next day. According to the constitution, parliament must elect a new president by secret ballot within 30 days. In a video address, Sulyok said he signed the amendment because he had "no constitutional means to oppose this amendment, which violates constitutional principles but was adopted by the National Assembly (parliament) through a lawful procedure." Prime Minister Péter Magyar welcomed the signing, saying it had "removed the last obstacle to implementing our joint decisions." He said he would consult parliamentary parties on a successor, adding that "the moral basis for the appointment can only come from society's trust."

Sulyok was elected by the Hungarian parliament, then controlled by a Fidesz majority, in 2024 for a five year term originally set to expire in March 2029. However, the Hungarian government repeatedly called on Sulyok to resign, accusing him of serving the interests of the previous Fidesz led government. The conflict between the president and the government, led by the Tisza party, intensified after parliamentary elections, when the new administration sought to consolidate its position and change the political course.

As CCTV+ reports. A new president will be elected within the next month, and his appointment will be an important signal of the future direction of Hungarian politics.