Peter Magyar prepares to amend the Constitution to prevent a possible return of Viktor Orbán: limiting prime minister terms to two
Peter Magyar, the winner of Hungary's election, said on Monday that he plans to introduce a two-term limit for prime minister into the constitution, a change that, applied retroactively, would prevent Viktor Orbán from ever returning to head the government.
The announcement came in his first press conference after the election victory, achieved with a majority large enough to allow the fundamental law to be changed, according to The Guardian.
Peter Magyar emphasized that the reform would be part of a wider package of measures aimed at limiting the concentration of executive power. “We will not take illegal measures to restore the rule of law“, he said, insisting that the changes are aimed at strengthening institutions, not using them for political purposes.
Hungary's election winner also reiterated his call for President Tamas Sulyok, appointed under Orbán, to step down before the 70th anniversary of the 1956 revolution.
“A regime change”
In the nearly three-hour conference, he dismissed the idea that the reforms could be perceived as retaliation, saying his goal was “a change of regime” to prevent the repetition of slippages from recent years.
Peter Magyar won the Hungarian elections. PHOTO Shutterstock
“I'm not here to get rich and I'm not here to rule forever”he pointed out.
The new leader from Budapest also discussed the structure of the future government, without yet announcing the names of those who will occupy the key portfolios.
