Hungarian lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment on June 16, 2026, that limits the tenure of a prime minister to eight years. This change prevents any individual who has served that duration from being elected prime minister again. The amendment has been informally referred to as the 'Lex Orbán' after former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who led the government from 1998 to 2002 and again from 2010 to 2026. Orban's supporters have criticized the amendment as a misuse of government power aimed at suppressing opposition. European Parliament member Laszlo Andras stated that the amendment is specifically targeted at Orban. Following the April parliamentary elections, Orban's party, Fidesz, was ousted after 16 years in power.
New Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who ran against Orban, is seeking to remove officials aligned with the former leader, including President Tamas Sulyok, who has been urged to resign or face a constitutional amendment for removal. Sulyok has expressed concerns that Magyar's actions threaten the constitutional order and democratic system. Magyar has also proposed dissolving the Sovereignty Protection Office, established by Fidesz, which he claims is politically motivated and not serving a public duty.