János Áder, the former President of Hungary, has expressed strong opposition to the potential ousting of President Tamás Sulyok, labeling the move as a “constitutional coup” and cautioning that it would breach the nation’s constitutional framework. During a podcast appearance, Áder emphasized that political differences with the president should not serve as a basis for initiating legal proceedings. He highlighted that Hungary’s constitution explicitly dictates that a president can only be removed via an impeachment process, which necessitates a two-thirds majority in parliament along with evidence of constitutional or legal infractions.
The contentious 17th amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law proposes that Sulyok be compelled to vacate his position immediately upon the amendment’s enactment. Áder criticized this approach, arguing that it circumvents the constitutional impeachment process and represents an unconstitutional application of retroactive legislation. In his view, this amendment undermines the established legal procedure designed to address such issues.
Áder also dismissed claims that Sulyok had inadequately addressed certain political controversies, categorizing these accusations as political grievances rather than legitimate legal violations that could warrant the president’s removal. He asserted that allegations against Sulyok were rooted in political criticism, lacking the legal basis necessary for impeachment.
Furthermore, Áder cautioned that displacing the president through a constitutional amendment, rather than adhering to the traditional legal framework, would jeopardize the presidency’s legitimacy and erode the rule of law. He contended that any successor appointed under these conditions would face significant challenges regarding their constitutional legitimacy and capacity to embody national unity.