Hungary approves constitutional amendment allowing president's removal

Hungary's parliament on Monday approved the 17th amendment to the country's Fundamental Law, allowing the president to be removed from office if he refuses to promulgate a constitutional amendment passed by parliament, reported Xinhua. The amendment was approved by 139 votes in favor, 6 against and zero abstentions. Former Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party and its former coalition partner, the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), did not take part in the vote in protest against what they described as an anti-democratic measure. Besides establishing a procedure under which President Tamas Sulyok may be removed from office if he refuses to promulgate a constitutional amendment adopted by parliament, the modification also introduces a 12-year term limit for members of parliament, sets a mandatory retirement age of 70 for Constitutional Court judges, restores the Constitutional Court's authority to review budgetary and tax legislation, narrows the scope of laws requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority, and provides the constitutional basis for establishing a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office. Speaking after the vote, Prime Minister Peter Magyar described the change as "the end of the Orban era." He said it marked the completion of the dismantling of the former government's constitutional system, adding that the government would launch a broad constitution-making process in September aimed at drafting a new constitution with public participation. He also said the amendment would restore the independence of state institutions, limit the entrenchment of political power, strengthen judicial independence and provide the constitutional basis for recovering public assets. According to Magyar, Sulyok now had two options: resign or sign the amendment within the constitutional deadline so it could enter into force.