Hungarian MPs on Monday voted overwhelmingly to limit prime ministerial terms to eight years in a constitutional change that blocks the return of nationalist Viktor Orban, who ruled for 16.
The amendment was a key campaign promise of pro-EU conservative Peter Magyar, who ousted Orban from office in elections in April, promising sweeping reforms.
Magyar argued that limitless tenure could lead to misgovernance, pointing to his predecessor who critics said constantly tweaking the political system to keep a tight grip on power.
Orban’s party opposed the term limits, arguing that it could possibly restrict popular will.
The amendment passed easily in parliament — where Magyar’s Tisza party holds a two-thirds majority — with 135 votes for, 50 against and six abstentions.
Under Hungarian law, such a measure can be passed by a two-thirds majority without needing a referendum.
“The Orban law has been passed. That was the most pressing issue… If I’m needed, I’ll be here,” Orban, who over the weekend was reelected as leader of his Fidesz party, posted on Facebook.
Some countries impose term limits on their top leaders, with such restrictions usually placed on presidents.
The tenure of Hungary’s president, whose role is largely ceremonial, is already limited with only one re-election for a second five-year term possible.
The new term limit does not completely rule out Orban’s return to power as it could be revoked in the future by another constitutional change.
This is the 16th time Hungary’s Basic Law has been changed since its adoption in 2011.
The approved amendment also removed a provision stipulating the need for an independent body to “safeguard” the country’s “constitutional identity”.
This was done to pave the way to disband the Sovereignty Protection Office, a controversial agency established in 2024 and entrusted with broad investigative powers ostensibly to curb “foreign influence”.
It mainly targeted Orban’s critics, accusing independent media and NGOs like Transparency International of serving foreign interests.
The agency has not released any official reports since Magyar won the election.
Hungary’s parliament is set to vote on a bill for the agency’s dissolution at the end of June.
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