Hungary’s parliament passes two-term limit that would prevent Orbán returning to office | Euractiv

The amendment was passed by the ruling Tisza party’s supermajority, with 135 votes in favour

BUDAPEST – The Hungarian parliament on Monday adopted the 16th amendment to the constitution, introducing retroactive term limits that would prevent former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from returning to office.

The amendment, passed by the ruling Tisza party’s supermajority with 135 votes in favour, limits prime ministers to two four-year terms. Crucially, the cap applies to all terms served since May 1990, disqualifying Orbán, who governed Hungary for a combined 20 years. The opposition Fidesz and KDNP parties voted against the measure, while the far-right Mi Hazánk abstained.

Tisza’s election victory in April ended 16 years of uninterrupted Fidesz rule and handed Prime Minister Péter Magyar the two-thirds majority required to amend Hungary’s constitution, paving the way for the overhaul.

Because constitutional amendments cannot be challenged on substantive grounds, President Tamás Sulyok has limited scope to prevent the measure from entering into force.