According to an article in Czech news outlet Deník N, Hungary’s new government is preparing a far-reaching effort to dismantle what it sees as the institutional legacy of Fidesz, including removing President Tamás Sulyok from office.
The success—or legitimacy—of that effort will depend on whether it can be done without undermining the rule-of-law principles the government claims to want to restore. The Czech article questions whether such a radical transformation can genuinely be described as democratic.
Critics have responded to the Tisza party’s efforts by pointing out that replacing what the party sees as politically aligned officials through constitutional engineering is doing exactly what Magyar claims to oppose. Using extraordinary constitutional powers against officeholders with legally protected terms could create new rule-of-law dilemmas.
In addition to President Sulyok, Magyar has also asked for the resignations of the president of the Supreme Court, the president of the Constitutional Court, the Prosecutor General, the president of the State Audit Office, the president of the Competition Authority, the chair of the Media Council, and the president of the National Judicial Council. If they do not resign, Magyar has said, they will be removed.
Like Sulyok, Prosecutor General Gábor Bálint Nagy has stated he has no intention of resigning. In an interview, Nagy said he has never experienced any political pressure during his four years in office. “I would like to continue this professional work. My activity has been based solely on my profession my entire life,” Nagy said, adding neither he nor his family has ever had any political involvement.
