Protests Erupt in Hungary Over Plans to Remove President Sulyok
WHO:
AP - János Pócs, a Fidesz lawmaker, stated that Fidesz had passed many constitutional amendments "always in the interest of the country, in order to protect the country, but not for the sake of dictatorship."
PBS - President Tamás Sulyok, Prime Minister Péter Magyar, former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, János Pócs (Fidesz lawmaker), Krisztina Nemerkényi (protester)
ABC News - President Tamás Sulyok, Prime Minister Péter Magyar, former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, János Pócs (Fidesz lawmaker), Krisztina Nemerkényi (protester)
WHAT:
AP - The constitutional amendment is set to go to a vote next week.
PBS - Several thousand people protested against the Hungarian government's efforts to oust President Sulyok.
PBS - The constitutional amendment aimed to end Sulyok's term, set term limits for members of parliament, implement reforms to the judiciary, and create a new authority to uncover alleged financial abuses by Orbán's government.
ABC News - The constitutional amendment is set to go to a vote next week.
PBS - The new government has unlocked 16.4 billion euros (around $19 billion) in European Union funds for Hungary.
WHERE:
PBS - The protest took place at the Sándor Palace in Budapest's Castle District.
ABC News - The protest occurred in Budapest, Hungary.
WHEN:
PBS - The protest occurred on a Thursday.
ABC News - The protest occurred on a Thursday.
WHY:
PBS - The new government, led by Magyar, aims to dismantle what he calls Orbán's "mafia" and remove political appointees from Orbán's regime.
ABC News - Magyar argues that Sulyok failed to fulfill his presidential role by not opposing antidemocratic steps taken by Orbán's government.
HOW:
AP - Magyar's government has suspended the news service of Hungary's public television and radio, which was viewed as a "propaganda factory" for Orbán's party.
PBS - Orbán promoted the protest on social media but did not attend.
ABC News - The new government has implemented an 8-year term limit for prime ministers and has suspended the news service of Hungary's public television and radio, which was viewed as a "propaganda factory" for Orbán's party.
(UPDATED July 10, 2026 08:10 UTC)
János Pócs, a lawmaker from Fidesz, emphasized that the party has consistently passed constitutional amendments aimed at protecting the country rather than establishing a dictatorship. A crucial constitutional amendment is scheduled for a vote next week. Meanwhile, the government has suspended the news service of Hungary's public television and radio, which many have criticized as a "propaganda factory" for Orbán's party.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 06:21 UTC)
Thousands of people protested at the Sándor Palace in Budapest against the Hungarian government's efforts to oust President Tamás Sulyok, with Prime Minister Péter Magyar leading the charge for constitutional amendments aimed at ending Sulyok's term and reforming the judiciary. The proposed changes, which include term limits for parliament members and the establishment of a new authority to investigate alleged financial abuses by Viktor Orbán's government, are set to go to a vote next week. Meanwhile, the new government has unlocked 16.4 billion euros in European Union funds for Hungary, while Orbán promoted the protest on social media but chose not to attend.