Hungary’s Magyar threatens legal action if president refuses to resign

Monday 01 June 2026 - 11:00

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has warned that legal proceedings could be launched if President Tamas Sulyok refuses to resign following escalating political tensions in the country.

After a meeting with the president on Monday, Magyar stated that his government would initiate legal steps to remove Sulyok from office if he continues to reject calls to step down. The remarks come amid growing political restructuring following recent electoral changes in Hungary.

Magyar’s centre-right Tisza party, which came to power after defeating former Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a major election victory, has pledged to replace officials appointed during Orban’s long tenure. The party argues that several key institutions require reform to restore democratic balance and public trust.

The president, elected in early 2024 with support from Orban’s Fidesz party, has been accused by Magyar of failing to represent national unity and of maintaining alignment with the previous government’s political interests. Sulyok has so far refused to resign.

Magyar also announced that, if no resignation occurs, parliamentary procedures will be launched within weeks, potentially leading to the removal of officials described by his party as obstacles to institutional reform.

The political standoff highlights ongoing divisions in Hungary over governance, institutional independence, and the legacy of the previous administration.