Hungary is preparing a historic change: the rule that would take Viktor Orbán out of the game for good
The “Tisza” party, newly in power in Hungary, presented its first proposals to amend the Constitution, including a measure that would limit the term of a prime minister to a maximum of two terms. If the amendment is adopted, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán would no longer be able to lead the Hungarian government, the Telex publication reports.
Viktor Orban, taken out of the game by Péter Magyar/FOTO:X
The proposal was one of the main election promises of the leader of the formation, Péter Magyar. According to the plan, the term limit would also apply to former heads of government.
The current constitution of Hungary provides that the prime minister is elected by the parliament on the proposal of the president of the republic. “Tisza” wants to supplement the article with a provision according to which a person who has held the position of prime minister for at least eight years, even with interruptions, can no longer be elected to this position.
The proposed text specifies that the eight-year period will include all mandates exercised after May 2, 1990.
Viktor Orbán has served as prime minister for five different terms since 1998, which would mean that the new rule would permanently block his return to the head of the executive.
The reform package also includes removing the constitutional basis for the operation of the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty, an institution created by the ruling Fidesz party in 2023.
Another proposal concerns public interest asset management foundations, to which the Hungarian state has transferred control over most universities and some public institutions in recent years.
“Tisza” claims that the assets managed by these foundations are national patrimony and states that the transfer of public assets to such entities was “the result of an abuse of legislative power”.
According to Telex, the status of these foundations remains one of the main unresolved issues in the relationship between Budapest and the European Union and affects Hungary's access to European funds. The situation has also generated financial difficulties in the country's higher education system.
The Hungarian Parliament could start debating the amendments as early as next week. A two-thirds majority is required for the adoption of constitutional amendments.
Last week, Péter Magyar stated that, after specific amendments to the current Constitution, the legislature would begin drafting a new fundamental law, which would be subject to a national referendum.
