Hungary’s Parliament approved an amendment to the Constitution establishing an eight-year limit on the tenure of the Prime Minister. The restriction applies to both consecutive and non-consecutive terms.
The provision covers all individuals who have held the office of Prime Minister since May 2, 1990. As a result, it applies to former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who served for 16 years, and prevents his return to the position.
Members of Orbán’s Fidesz party criticized the amendment, citing concerns over its retroactive application and what they described as personal bias. They noted that similar term limits for prime ministers do not exist in other parliamentary democracies in Europe.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar ousted Orban in an election in April after 16 years, gaining a two-thirds majority in parliament that allows his party to roll back or change legislation passed by Orban’s Fidesz, including the constitution.