The Hungarian President of the Republic, Tamás Sulyok has signed the 17th amendment to Hungary’s fundamental law [that is, constitution], which stipulates that the incumbent president’s mandate will terminate the day after the amendment enters into force.
In a video posted on his social media page, the head of state said that since the President of the Republic cannot refer matters concerning the substance of constitutional amendments to the Constitutional Court — meaning that substantive review cannot take place — therefore, “I have no constitutional means to challenge this amendment, which violates constitutional principles but was adopted by the National Assembly, as the body empowered to amend the Constitution, through a lawful procedure.”
“I am fulfilling my obligation under the Fundamental Law — after thoroughly weighing my legal options and my conscience. My signature is the final seal of my obligations as President of the Republic and of my complete and unconditional respect for the office of the President of the Republic,” stated Tamás Sulyok.
"My signature is the final seal of my presidential duty and a sign of my absolute respect for the office of the president under all circumstances," Tamás Sulyok said.
The President was of the view that he had always upheld the fundamental law, fulfilled his duties with full respect for it, and could not refuse to sign the amendment without violating the law. At the same time, he said the 17th constitutional amendment was a "serious and shameful historical example of abuse of political power, marking a breaking point in Hungary’s constitutional democracy and inflicting deep wounds on its core values: democracy, separation of powers and the rule of law".
According to the provisions of the Fundamental Law, Ágnes Forsthoffer, the speaker of the parliament, will temporarily exercise the powers of the president, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Saturday in a video posted on Facebook.
Parliament must elect a new president within 30 days, the prime minister added.
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