Peter Magyar calls for President Tamas Sulyok to resign
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 9
Peter Magyar calls for President Tamas Sulyok to resign
8 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 9
Minutes after taking the oath as Hungary's prime minister, Magyar confronted Sulyok in parliament on Friday and urged him to have the “courage” to quit.
Magyar said the president had failed to speak out against the previous government's abuses, which he said included democratic backsliding and child abuse in state homes.
The clash signalled an effort by Hungary's new premier to draw a line under 16 years of increasingly autocratic rule under former prime minister Viktor Orban.
Ousted after 16 years, Viktor Orbán is planning his comeback. How will Hungary's new government survive?
Can Hungary's new leader dismantle an autocracy without using the autocrat's own playbook?
From Orbán to Magyar: Hungary’s 2026 Political Upheaval and the Fight for Institutional Independence
Overview
On May 9, 2026, Peter Magyar issued a bold ultimatum demanding the resignation of Hungary’s President Tamas Sulyok and several top judges by the end of the month, accusing them of being 'Orbán’s puppets' and lacking independence. This move aims to dismantle the lingering influence of Viktor Orbán’s long rule within key state institutions. Magyar’s threat of legal removal if his demands are not met puts immense pressure on the current leadership, raising the risk of constitutional challenges and a period of instability. The ultimatum marks a turning point, signaling possible shifts in Hungary’s political identity and its role on the global stage.