A fundamental shift has occurred in Hungary's political system. Members of parliament voted to adopt constitutional amendments that effectively block Viktor Orbán's path back to the office of Prime Minister. The new provision introduces a strict limit on the tenure of the head of government — no more than eight years in total.
The Law with Retroactive Effect
A key feature of the adopted decision is its retroactive nature. The new rules apply to all individuals who have held the office of Prime Minister since May 2, 1990. This means that the calculation of tenure begins from the moment the first democratic government was formed in the country after the fall of socialism.
Viktor Orbán, who served as head of government from 1998 to 2002 and from 2010 to 2026, has a total tenure of 16 years. According to the new version of the constitution, he has legally exhausted his limit and can no longer claim this position.
Reaction of Fidesz and Political Context
The parliament's decision sparked a strong reaction within the ranks of the former ruling party, Fidesz. Deputies sharply criticized the amendments, accusing the legislators of "personal bias." The party stated that applying the law to actions committed before its adoption is inadmissible and violates the principles of the rule of law.
Representatives of Fidesz also highlighted the uniqueness of the situation, noting that similar strict restrictions on government leaders are absent in other European parliamentary democracies. In their opinion, this is an unprecedented step directed against a specific individual rather than aimed at improving the system of governance.
Change of Power
The adoption of the amendments marked the logical conclusion of the political transformation that began this spring. In the recent parliamentary elections, the Fidesz party suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the opposition party, Tisza. As a result of the voting, Péter Magyar became the new Prime Minister of Hungary, who initiated the changes in the country's constitutional field.