Amnesty International Hungary has accused the new government of undermining the rule of law in its attempt to remove President Tamás Sulyok, even while agreeing that the president should leave office.
In a strongly worded statement published this week on its own website, Amnesty International warned that the government’s plan to push through a rapid constitutional amendment to oust Sulyok risks setting a dangerous precedent ignoring the right to a fair trial.
It insists that any removal must follow proper legal procedures with full constitutional safeguards, rather than what Amnesty describes as a fast-track political process.
The group agrees with the current government that Sulyok has lost public confidence, criticising him for repeatedly failing to speak out against alleged abuses of power and for allegedly not adequately defending the rights of vulnerable groups during his time in office.
However, Amnesty argues that the method chosen by Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government is the wrong way to address the issue.
The controversy follows Péter Magyar’s demand earlier this year that Sulyok resign, after the president — widely seen as a holdover from the Orbán era — refused to step down.
The Tisza Party-led government now intends to amend Hungary’s Constitution to force his removal.
On Monday, the Hungarian Government published its proposal for the 17th amendment to the Constitution.
According to the proposal, Sulyok’s term as head of state would end the day after the amended Fundamental Law enters into force.
Critics of the previous administration argue that decisive action is needed to clear institutions they believe were compromised under Fidesz.
Having campaigned on restoring democracy and the rule of law after years of what it called institutional capture, it now faces accusations from the very same international NGOs and watchdogs that heavily criticised the Orbán governments.
Magyar was presented as the democratic reformer who would bring Hungary back into line with European standards.
Supporters of Magyar say the speed is necessary to prevent obstruction by legacy figures.
Opponents warn that bypassing normal procedures damages the credibility of the so-called “rule of law” restoration project.
For many, it reinforces the perception that Brussels and aligned NGOs are less concerned with consistent legal principles than with ensuring political outcomes that favour their preferred side.
New Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has intensified his campaign to push President Tamás Sulyok out of office, vowing to use his party’s large parliamentary mandate to force the issue if the head of state refuses to go. https://t.co/FZlJBFCZO3
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) May 19, 2026
