Hungarian lawmakers approved on Monday a constitutional amendment meant to prevent former Prime Minister Viktor Orban from returning to power.The parliament approved the change, which caps an individual’s tenure as prime minister at eight years. Anyone who has held the office for that amount of time “cannot be elected prime minister” and cannot run for reelection.“They have passed the ‘Lex Orbán.’ That was the most pressing issue,” the former prime minister joked in a brief statement after the amendment was passed. “If I am needed, I will be here.”
Fidesz party head and former prime minister Viktor Orban, center, speaks to the press as he arrives at the opposition Fidesz party’s working congress meeting, in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)
His supporters have cried foul about the constitutional change, claiming the “Orban law” is an illicit use of government power to suppress opposition — a charge frequently lobbed at Orban during his time in office. Additionally, some claim the law cannot be applied retroactively to past leaders.
“In practice, this is tailored to Viktor Orban, he is the only person this constitutional amendment applies to,” European parliament member Laszlo Andras complained. “Liberals preach democracy and apply legal means to exclude top challengers, instead of winning the argument and popular support.”
