Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz receives Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar with military honors at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany on Tuesday. NADJA WOHLLEBEN/REUTERS
Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar has vowed to alter the country's constitution to enable the removal of the president and other high-ranking appointees put in place by his predecessor, populist Viktor Orban.
Magyar and his Tisza Party swept to power at the elections in April, winning a two-thirds majority in the country's parliament and bringing a resounding end to 16 years of rule by Orban.
The new prime minister has been swift to reverse many of his predecessor's policies, including making a restoration of good relations with the EU a priority. When Magyar won, his victory was greeted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying there were "strong signals that Hungary is turning the page" and "we can already feel a strong wind of change across Hungary".
Tamas Sulyok was appointed to a five-year term in the largely ceremonial role of president in 2024, a decision that drew criticism from opponents across the political spectrum. As part of his ongoing overhaul, Magyar has referred to Sulyok as Orban's "puppet" and said he should resign, a demand Sulyok has rejected. So Magyar will now seek to remove him from office.
