Orbán Accuses New PM Magyar of Ushering in Autocracy in Hungary

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused his successor, Péter Magyar, of dismantling Hungary's democratic rule of law, after parliament passed the 17th amendment to the constitution, a move that fundamentally reshapes the country's political system.

Almost immediately after returning from the football championship in the United States, Orbán posted a statement on Facebook recalling that after decades of dictatorship imposed by German and Soviet occupation, the Hungarian people won their freedom in 1990 and established a democratic state governed by the rule of law. "Following the 2026 elections, the Tisza party is now changing Hungary's constitutional order, and with the adoption of the 17th constitutional amendment, Hungary is no longer a democratic state under the rule of law — a new era of autocracy has begun," Orbán declared.

According to Orbán, restrictions on voting rights have effectively put an end to political competition and democracy in the country. "The president of the republic and the chairman of the Constitutional Court have both been forced out, violating the separation of powers and destroying the rule of law," Orbán said, describing the current political system as illegitimate. He stressed that his mission now is to restore a democratic state governed by the rule of law.

On Saturday, Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok signed the constitutional amendment, thereby automatically losing his post. In doing so, Prime Minister Magyar rid himself of a head of state he had repeatedly branded a puppet of the Orbán regime. At the same time, the Constitutional Court is being overhauled, and new rules governing parliamentary mandates are being introduced for MPs.

The introduction of a mandatory retirement age of 70 for Constitutional Court judges, effective September 1, 2026, will end the terms of current court chairman Péter Polt and three other judges. "Along with this, they will also lose their immunity," Magyar noted. Members of parliament will now also face a term limit — a maximum of 12 years, or no more than three consecutive terms.

During Viktor Orbán's years in power, his Fidesz party effectively established control over most of the country's media, and the electoral system was structured to give the party a built-in advantage. This allowed Orbán to significantly limit the opposition's chances of gaining power for a long time.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz