Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok on Saturday signed a constitutional amendment that immediately ends his term in office, forcing the ally of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban to step down as head of state.

Sulyok stated: "I am fulfilling my obligation under the Fundamental Law after carefully weighing my legal options and my conscience." He criticized the law as setting a "negative precedent that inflicts a deep wound on the constitutional values of democracy, the separation of powers and the rule of law."

The amendment was passed by Prime Minister Peter Magyar's ruling Tisza party. It is part of a concerted effort to rid the EU member state of the last remnants of Orban's far-right political machine after voters booted Orban and his Fidesz party from office in April elections.

Until now, Sulyok had staunchly resisted calls by Magyar and his pro-EU party to step down on grounds that voters had lost confidence in him and accusing him of thwarting progress on matters of national interest. On Saturday, Sulyok said he had no choice but to sign the legislation.

The new amendment also sets a 12-year term limit for all lawmakers and establishes mandatory retirement for Hungary's Constitutional Court justices at 70 years of age — a change that will force Orban ally Peter Polt out of his position as president of the court.

Orban went further, saying "tyranny is no longer a threat… but a reality." Magyar welcomed the news of Sulyok's departure, saying "the final obstacle to our joint decisions taking effect has been removed."

However, not all critics of Orban welcomed the new law. Human Rights Watch called it "reminiscent of the Fidesz era." Corruption was widely seen as endemic during Orban's rule.

Sulyok's term officially ends at midnight on Sunday. Agnes Forsthoffer, the current speaker of parliament, will serve in his stead until the body elects a replacement within the next 30 days.

Source: www.dw.com