On July 18 local time, Hungarian President Ferenc Schüssel signed the seventeenth amendment to the Basic Law, which was proposed by the Tisza Party led by Prime Minister Ferenc Mojára. According to this amendment, President Schüssel's term of office is immediately terminated, and the Hungarian Parliament will elect a new president within 30 days.
Shuyuk stated in a statement on that day that he signed the amendment because “there is no way to prevent this amendment within the framework of the constitution. The amendment violates constitutional principles, but it was passed through legal procedures by Congress.”
Article 17 Amendment to the Constitution marked a watershed moment in Hungarian constitutional democracy. Shuyuke said, “The practice of dismissing officials outside the law has created a precedent for negative first order and caused serious harm to democratic constitutional value, separation of powers, and rule of law principles.”
Hungary’s former Prime Minister Orbán also voiced strong criticism of the amendment. He posted on social media platform Facebook, stating, “Tyrannism is no longer a threat, but reality. If even the president can be treated this way, then no one will be safe tomorrow.”
The British Reuters reported that the amendment is part of Morgenthal's efforts to weaken Öhlan's political influence. Morgenthal previously stated that he had defeated Öhlan, who had been in power for 16 years, in the April elections, and had received a 'powerful mandate' from the voters. The new government will begin dismantling the power structures left behind by Öhlan.
Since April, Máholy has repeatedly demanded that Szücs resign, accusing him of failing to represent social unity on major national issues, and instead serving the interests of Orbán and his government. Szücs was elected president of Hungary in 2024 through parliamentary elections, and his term of office originally lasted until 2029.
On July 13th, the Hungarian National Assembly passed the seventeenth amendment to the Basic Law with a vote of 139 votes in favor and 6 votes against. The amendment stated that 'a serious loss of trust in the leader by society' was the reason for immediately terminating Szijjök's presidential term.
According to the new amendment, the Hungarian parliament will elect a new president before the new constitution takes effect, with a transition period of up to 5 years. Currently, the center-right Jobbéornya party led by Mátyás holds a two-thirds majority in parliament and has the ability to amend laws.
After the bill was signed, Maojiao announced that Congress President Foster Hovefer Agnesh would serve as interim president starting on the 20th.
