Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok Refuses to Resign Despite Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Midnight Ultimatum
Hungary's president has rejected an ultimatum from the new government to resign, setting up a constitutional showdown between the country's old and new leadership.
A political crisis escalated in Hungary on Sunday as the midnight deadline set by Prime Minister Péter Magyar for President Tamás Sulyok to resign expired without the head of state stepping down. Sulyok, who was appointed in 2024 after the resignation of Katalin Novák, declared in a Facebook video that he would not voluntarily leave office, citing his constitutional oath. The standoff pits Magyar's TISZA party, which won a crushing parliamentary majority in April, against remnants of the former Orbán regime, whom Magyar has vowed to remove.
Ultimatum and Refusal
Magyar had set the May 31 deadline immediately after his election victory, labeling Sulyok a "puppet" of ex-premier Viktor Orbán and demanding the resignations of other top judicial officials, including the chief prosecutor and heads of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts. Hours before the deadline expired, Sulyok reiterated his defiance.
Magyar responded with a scathing Facebook post,My oath binds me to serve the entire Hungarian nation and to perform my duties based on constitutional order. Faithful to my oath, I will continue to hold the office of president and exercise my powers as defined in the Constitution and laws.
Tamás Sulyok has never defended the vulnerable, the attacked, or the rule of law. Even on Children's Day, he does nothing but defend his monthly salary of 6.3 million forints, instead of apologizing.
Constitutional Constraints
Removing a sitting president in Hungary is not straightforward, even with a constitutional majority. According to the country's Basic Law, the head of state can be removed only if he intentionally violates the constitution, breaks the law in connection with his duties, or commits a criminal act. The process requires a two-thirds vote in parliament to initiate proceedings, after which the final decision lies with the Constitutional Court — whose judges were all appointed during Orbán's 16-year rule. Alternatively, TISZA could amend the law to shorten Sulyok's term, which formally runs until 2029, but that path also demands careful navigation of legislative hurdles.
- Magyar's TISZA party wins parliamentary election with constitutional majority (141/199 seats).
- Magyar's deadline for President Sulyok's resignation expires at midnight.
- Sulyok announces in a Facebook video that he will not resign, citing his constitutional oath.
- Magyar and Justice Minister plan to visit Sulyok at 8 a.m. to press the resignation demand.
Monday Visit
Magyar announced he and Justice Minister Gábor Bálint Nagy would visit Sulyok at 8 a.m. on Monday, signaling a direct confrontation. The prime minister has emphasized that the Hungarian people voted for change in April and need a president who will unite the nation rather than defend an "unforgivable past." Should diplomatic pressure fail, TISZA’s 141 seats in the 199-member parliament provide the muscle to pursue legislative routes, but the Constitutional Court remains a potential roadblock.
Orbán's Shadow and Past Presidents
Sulyok is the latest in a line of presidents elected under Fidesz's constitutional majority, all seen as loyal to Orbán. His immediate predecessor, Katalin Novák, resigned in 2024 after a scandal involving a presidential pardon for an official implicated in covering up child sexual abuse at a children’s home. Before her, presidents Pál Schmitt (who quit over a plagiarism scandal) and János Áder also drew criticism for lacking independence. Magyar has framed the current crisis as a necessary purge to complete the post-election transition of power.
