Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok, an ally of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, signed a constitutional amendment approved by Prime Minister Peter Magyar's ruling Tisza party, immediately ending his term, Reuters reported on July 18. The next day, Magyar announced he would ask former chess champion Judit Polgar to become president.

Sulyok, elected under Orban in 2024, had rejected repeated resignation demands from Magyar, who accused him of failing to check the previous government's antidemocratic measures. Beyond ending the presidential term, the amendment also caps lawmakers' tenure at 12 years, mandates judicial retirement at 70 and creates an office to investigate Orban-era financial abuses. Since taking power in May, Magyar's government has removed numerous appointees, suspended public media's news service and closed the Sovereignty Protection Office, a government agency accused of pressuring critics and independent media.