BUDAPEST, May 21 – Hungary’s governing Tisza party introduced legislation to parliament Wednesday evening proposing constitutional changes that would cap prime ministerial service at eight years maximum, a move that would prevent former leader Viktor Orban from returning to power.
Current Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who defeated nationalist Orban in April’s election following his 16-year tenure, has pledged to leverage his parliamentary super majority to reverse and modify laws enacted by Orban’s Fidesz party, including constitutional revisions, in an effort to restore democratic oversight mechanisms.
The proposed constitutional change, posted on parliament’s official website, states that individuals who have previously served as prime minister for eight years or more “cannot be elected prime minister.” The restriction applies to terms served after May 2, 1990.
The legislation also establishes that prime ministers must step down after completing eight total years in office, equivalent to two terms.
Additionally, the amendment creates a pathway to eliminate the Sovereignty Protection Office, an agency established by Orban in 2023 that maintained lists of media outlets considered threats to Hungary’s sovereignty and possessed authority to “probe activities that threaten the country’s sovereignty.”
Under the proposed legislation, Magyar’s administration would also regain control over founder rights of public-interest asset management foundations that oversee nearly two dozen universities, granting the government power to dissolve these organizations.
Should this occur, state resources valued at hundreds of billions of forints that Orban’s government transferred to these foundations would be returned to state control.
“The amendment makes it clear that although the foundations … are private entities, their assets are national assets,” the proposal states.
