The factions of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party and the Christian Democratic People’s Party boycotted the parliamentary session and vote. Meanwhile, the far-right Our Homeland party voted against the changes.
If President Katalin Novák signs the amendments, her powers will cease the day after they take effect, and Parliament must elect a new president within a month. Furthermore, four judges of the Constitutional Court will also see their powers terminated, and members of Parliament who have served for 12 years will no longer be eligible to run for office.
Prime Minister Péter Mátyás stated, “It would be a betrayal of the Hungarian nation if we did not amend this part of the constitution, as it serves as the foundation of the ‘Cosa Nostra’ formed by Fidesz and the CDPP.”
Context
- If Novák does not sign the constitutional changes, she can either return the document to Parliament (after reapproval, she will be obliged to sign it) or refer it to the Constitutional Court.
- Should Novák refer the amendments to the Constitutional Court citing procedural violations, and if everything was conducted correctly, the court is expected to swiftly complete its review, sending the law back to Novák for her signature.
- If Novák does not respond to the constitutional changes within five days as required by law, Mátyás and his allies will initiate removal procedures against her similar to the impeachment process for U.S. presidents. This process has been part of the constitution since 2012 but has never been used before.
