Tamás Sulyok

Sulyok was appointed as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Hungary in 2014 and became its head in 2016. During his tenure, he oversaw several controversial rulings such as those involving the rights of teachers to go on strike.^[2]

In February 2024, he became the nominee of the Fidesz party for President following the resignation of Katalin Novák due to uproar over her pardoning of an associate in a sexual abuse case. His nomination was approved in a two-thirds vote (134 in favor, 5 against and 60 leaving the chamber in protest)^[3] by the National Assembly on 26 February, with support from Fidesz and its coalition partner, the Christian Democratic People's Party, after which he took his oath of office, although he would not be formally assuming the position until 5 March. Opposition parties criticized his nomination, describing Sulyok as politically inexperienced, and held a rally in Budapest on 25 February calling for direct presidential elections.^[2]

In his inaugural address, Sulyok expressed his intent to be a follower of the letter of the law who would seek to refrain from engaging in Hungary’s political life. He also denounced the sanctions and procedures initiated by the European Union against Hungary over concerns in the rule of law and democratic governance, saying that "the correctly defined concept of the rule of law is being lost, transformed from an ideal into an idol in today's Europe as part of a purely utilitarian political approach", and emphasizing that EU member states should retain their legal national sovereignty.^[3]

Upon assuming office, his first act as president was to sign a bill approving the accession of Sweden to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on 5 March.^[4]

Since winning the parliamentary election in April 2026, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has demanded Sulyok's resignation by 31 May, threatening otherwise to use Tisza's parliamentary supermajority to remove him. Magyar's reasoning is that Sulyok is too pro-Orbán, claiming that "he is unworthy of embodying the unity of the Hungarian nation".^[5][6]

On 4 July 2026, Magyar introduced the seventeenth amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary, one provision of which would remove Sulyok from office immediately upon the amendment entering into effect.^[7] Sulyok and the opposition claimed this proposal violated the rule of law.^[8] Magyar argued that it was necessary to remove "puppets" of the former government who had done nothing to oppose the dismantling of the rule of law and democracy and to "free our country from the captivity of the political and economic mafia that has ruled for the past 16 years."^[9][10]

On 10 July 2026, Fidesz supporters and other oppositionists protested in Budapest against attempts by Magyar to oust Sulyok.^[11]

On 13 July 2026, the National Assembly adopted the seventeenth amendment that would remove Sulyok from office.^[12] Under the Fundamental Law, Sulyok will have five days to sign the amendment or refer it to the Constitutional Court, which may review for procedure alone. If Sulyok violated the constitution by refusing to sign the amendment, then – according to Prime Minister Magyar – the Tisza Party's parliamentary supermajority would begin impeachment proceedings against Sulyok, which will result in his powers being immediately suspended and passed to the Speaker of Parliament, Ágnes Forsthoffer, who would sign the amendment.^[13] Fidesz lawmakers boycotted the vote.^[14]

• Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Collar of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (17 September 2024)^[15]
• Kazakhstan: First Class of the Order of Friendship (2 October 2025)^[16]