Budapest: Hungary's parliament on Monday approved a constitutional amendment ending the mandate of President Tamas Sulyok, clearing the way for the removal of the head of state elected during former Prime Minister Viktor Orban's rule.

According to Anadolu Agency, lawmakers adopted the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law by a vote of 139-6, with no abstentions. The amendment mandates that the current president's term will conclude the day after the constitutional change comes into effect, thereby removing Sulyok from office before the completion of his five-year term, which began in 2024.

Under Hungarian law, Sulyok is required to promulgate the amendment by signing it within five days after receiving the text from the speaker of parliament. This means he is expected to sign the legislation that effectively ends his own mandate. Although the president may request a preliminary review by the Constitutional Court on procedural grounds before promulgating a constitutional amendment, Prime Minister Peter Magyar indicated that any such move would result in impeachment proceedings against Sulyok.

Magyar stated that if impeachment proceedings are initiated, Sulyok would be suspended from exercising his presidential powers while the Constitutional Court reviews the case. Following the vote, Magyar described the decision as 'historic' and criticized opposition lawmakers from Orban's Fidesz party for boycotting both the parliamentary debate and the final vote. He argued that Fidesz lawmakers should have represented their voters by attending the session rather than remaining absent.