Hungary’s parliament has approved a constitutional amendment that limits prime ministers to a maximum of eight years in office, a move that prevents former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from returning to the country’s highest government post. The amendment was passed with 135 votes in favour, 50 against and six abstentions.
Under Hungarian law, constitutional changes can be adopted with a two-thirds majority in parliament and do not require a referendum. The decision marks a significant change to the rules governing the country’s executive leadership and fulfills a key election promise made by Péter Magyar, the pro-European conservative who replaced Orbán after winning the April election.
The amendment states that no person may serve as prime minister if they have already held the office for a total of at least eight years. Orbán, who served as Hungary’s prime minister for a combined 20 years from 1998 to 2002 and from 2010 to 2026, is therefore barred from holding the position again.
Magyar had argued during his campaign that unlimited terms in office could lead to a concentration of political power. He cited his predecessor’s long tenure as an example in support of introducing a limit on the duration of prime ministerial service.
The constitutional change was approved during the first use of Magyar’s parliamentary majority to alter the country’s basic legal framework. Magyar’s Tisza party holds a two-thirds majority in the new parliament, allowing it to pass constitutional amendments. The existing constitution was introduced under Orbán’s government 16 years ago and was amended multiple times during his time in power.
Orbán’s Fidesz party opposed the introduction of a term limit, arguing that such a restriction could limit the will of voters. Critics of Orbán had previously accused his government of repeatedly reshaping the political system in ways that strengthened its control.
The amendment also creates the legal basis for the planned dissolution of the Office for the Protection of National Sovereignty, a body established by Orbán’s government in 2024. The office was given broad investigative powers and was officially created to counter what the government described as “foreign influence.”
The authority faced criticism from opponents who said it primarily targeted Orbán’s political critics, independent media outlets and non-governmental organisations, including Transparency International, which had been accused of representing foreign interests. Since Magyar’s election victory, the office has not published any new reports.
Hungary’s parliament is expected to vote on the dissolution of the sovereignty office at the end of June. The constitutional amendment also follows existing limits on the presidency, a largely ceremonial position, where the head of state may only be re-elected once for a second five-year term.
