Ruling party advances bill to limit parliament’s power to remove the president
Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party has introduced legislation that would make it significantly harder for parliament to declare the president unfit for office, a move widely viewed as an attempt by Prime Minister Viktor Orban to secure long-term political leverage ahead of pivotal 2026 elections. According to Bloomberg’s reporting, the amendment would transfer the power to rule on presidential incapacity from the National Assembly to the Constitutional Court. Given Fidesz’s firm control over the current parliament, the proposal is expected to pass without resistance. Its political significance lies in the likelihood that Fidesz could lose its majority after the April 2026 parliamentary vote, while President Tamas Sulyok—appointed by the governing party in 2024—would remain in office until 2029.
Under Hungary’s political system, the president plays a primarily ceremonial role but wields important veto instruments, including the power to return legislation to parliament or request a constitutional review. These mechanisms would give Fidesz considerable influence over future policymaking even from the opposition. Critics argue the bill is designed to entrench Orban’s allies within institutions that will continue to shape legislative decisions long after the elections.
Constitutional Court strengthened amid concerns over institutional capture
The proposed change would effectively strip parliament of its existing authority to declare the president unable to perform his duties, granting sole responsibility to the Constitutional Court. Fidesz lawmakers claim the reform protects the state from destabilising or erroneous parliamentary decisions, but opponents warn it consolidates Orban’s decade-long project of reshaping Hungary’s judicial landscape. The Constitutional Court is chaired by Peter Polt, a long-time Orban ally and former chief prosecutor who was appointed to the position in early 2025 for a 12-year term. President Sulyok himself previously served on the court, further deepening concerns over the concentration of power within a network of loyalists.
Analysts note that during his 15 years in government, Orban has repeatedly restructured state institutions to ensure maximum political continuity. The latest amendment, they argue, fits this pattern: it seeks to safeguard a presidential veto that could block or delay legislation initiated by a future opposition-led parliament. With the president empowered to refer bills to the Constitutional Court, Fidesz could retain substantial influence even if voters deliver a mandate for change.
Early campaign dynamics favour opposition as Fidesz loses ground
Campaigning for the April 2026 parliamentary elections began far earlier than usual, with parties launching extensive mobilisation efforts from spring 2025. After 15 uninterrupted years in power, Fidesz is experiencing a gradual erosion of public support, while the opposition—particularly the Tisza party led by Peter Magyar—has gained momentum in polls. Despite this, the government still hopes to secure victory by deploying administrative resources and its formidable media apparatus. The ruling party is also preparing for post-election scenarios, including the possibility of relinquishing its majority for the first time in over a decade.
On the economic front, Orban has announced an 11% rise in the minimum wage for 2026 after reaching agreement with unions and employers. Bloomberg reported that the decision is widely interpreted as pre-election positioning, despite being smaller than the previously planned 13% increase. The government is believed to have scaled back its ambitions due to sluggish economic performance: GDP contracted in the first quarter of 2025 and stagnated again in the third. Orban hopes that higher wages will boost consumption and stimulate growth, continuing a long-standing strategy of using income rises and pension hikes to offset economic stagnation.
Government spending surge aims to narrow polling gap
Fidesz is betting on a late surge in popularity driven by fiscal measures and targeted social benefits. Recent polls show a modest narrowing of the gap between the governing party and Tisza after the government expanded income-tax relief for mothers and introduced a new mortgage subsidy for first-time homebuyers. The strategy reflects Orban’s reliance on budgetary tools to secure electoral support and to counteract the opposition’s growing appeal.
Opposition leaders argue that these measures amount to short-term pre-election spending rather than sustainable economic reform. However, with voter sentiment still fluid, both camps expect the coming months to be decisive. Reports from Eurointegration add that the political environment is becoming increasingly polarised as the campaign intensifies, with institutional reforms, economic promises and concerns over democratic standards shaping voter debates.
