Blab Politics
Hungary Removes President Amid New Leadership; UK Sees Prime Ministerial Change
On 18 July 2026, Hungary’s National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that ended the presidency of Tamás Sulyok, a move that followed the Tisza Party’s overwhelming victory in the April parliamentary election. The amendment, the seventeenth revision of the country’s Fundamental Law, was signed by Sulyok himself and dissolved his own term.
Sulyok, elected in February 2024 on a platform promising a return to the rule of law, had largely stayed in the background during his tenure. Reporters noted that he rarely challenged former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s policies, earning a reputation as a compliant figure. The amendment is part of a broader effort by the new government to dismantle the autocratic system that had dominated Hungarian politics for 16 years.
The Tisza Party, led by former Fidesz member Péter Magyar, secured 141 of 199 seats in the April election, giving it the two‑thirds supermajority required to alter the constitution. After the election, Sulyok met with the leaders of the three parliamentary factions on 15 April and announced his support for Magyar as prime minister. The National Assembly convened on 9 May and elected Magyar to the premiership.
While many Hungarians welcomed the change as a step toward a more balanced system of checks and balances, NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International cautioned that the president’s removal could stall progress toward restoring rule of law and democratic norms. Human Rights Watch warned that the move “risks halting advances to restore the rule of law,” and Amnesty International argued that impeachment would have been the proper constitutional mechanism.
The amendment stripped Sulyok of all presidential powers and set a deadline for the Assembly to elect a new head of state. Under the constitution, Speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer will serve as acting president until a successor is chosen.
Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom experienced its own leadership shift. On Monday, 24 July 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepped down after a decline in popularity. He was succeeded by Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, who became the seventh prime minister since 2016. Burnham’s appointment was confirmed by a vote in the House of Commons.
Burnham’s first days in office were dominated by meetings with European leaders. He spoke with European Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stressing the importance of strengthening ties between the UK and the European Union. Although the UK remains outside the EU, Burnham’s government has signaled a willingness to cooperate on trade, security, and climate policy.
Domestic priorities for the new UK administration include stimulating economic growth, devolving powers to local authorities, and reindustrialising regions that have experienced significant decline. EU observers note that these policies could gradually bring the UK closer to European norms, even if the country does not re‑join the EU.
Both political shifts illustrate the fluidity of leadership in Europe. Hungary’s removal of a long‑time president marks a decisive break from the previous era, while the UK’s new prime minister faces the task of balancing domestic reform with renewed engagement with European partners. Brussels has expressed keen interest in how Hungary’s constitutional reforms affect the rule of law, and EU officials are monitoring the UK’s post‑Brexit trajectory.
The Hungarian National Assembly has until mid‑August to nominate a new president, after which a parliamentary vote will determine the successor. In the UK, Burnham’s cabinet is expected to unveil its policy agenda within the next week, and the House of Commons will debate key legislative proposals in the coming months. Both governments must maintain stability while pursuing reforms that reflect their respective electoral mandates.
Sulyok, elected in February 2024 on a platform promising a return to the rule of law, had largely stayed in the background during his tenure. Reporters noted that he rarely challenged former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s policies, earning a reputation as a compliant figure. The amendment is part of a broader effort by the new government to dismantle the autocratic system that had dominated Hungarian politics for 16 years.
The Tisza Party, led by former Fidesz member Péter Magyar, secured 141 of 199 seats in the April election, giving it the two‑thirds supermajority required to alter the constitution. After the election, Sulyok met with the leaders of the three parliamentary factions on 15 April and announced his support for Magyar as prime minister. The National Assembly convened on 9 May and elected Magyar to the premiership.
While many Hungarians welcomed the change as a step toward a more balanced system of checks and balances, NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International cautioned that the president’s removal could stall progress toward restoring rule of law and democratic norms. Human Rights Watch warned that the move “risks halting advances to restore the rule of law,” and Amnesty International argued that impeachment would have been the proper constitutional mechanism.
The amendment stripped Sulyok of all presidential powers and set a deadline for the Assembly to elect a new head of state. Under the constitution, Speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer will serve as acting president until a successor is chosen.
Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom experienced its own leadership shift. On Monday, 24 July 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepped down after a decline in popularity. He was succeeded by Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, who became the seventh prime minister since 2016. Burnham’s appointment was confirmed by a vote in the House of Commons.
Burnham’s first days in office were dominated by meetings with European leaders. He spoke with European Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stressing the importance of strengthening ties between the UK and the European Union. Although the UK remains outside the EU, Burnham’s government has signaled a willingness to cooperate on trade, security, and climate policy.
Domestic priorities for the new UK administration include stimulating economic growth, devolving powers to local authorities, and reindustrialising regions that have experienced significant decline. EU observers note that these policies could gradually bring the UK closer to European norms, even if the country does not re‑join the EU.
Both political shifts illustrate the fluidity of leadership in Europe. Hungary’s removal of a long‑time president marks a decisive break from the previous era, while the UK’s new prime minister faces the task of balancing domestic reform with renewed engagement with European partners. Brussels has expressed keen interest in how Hungary’s constitutional reforms affect the rule of law, and EU officials are monitoring the UK’s post‑Brexit trajectory.
The Hungarian National Assembly has until mid‑August to nominate a new president, after which a parliamentary vote will determine the successor. In the UK, Burnham’s cabinet is expected to unveil its policy agenda within the next week, and the House of Commons will debate key legislative proposals in the coming months. Both governments must maintain stability while pursuing reforms that reflect their respective electoral mandates.
