Hungary’s parliament on Monday approved a constitutional amendment imposing an eight-year term limit on prime ministers.
The move is specifically intended to prevent former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from ever returning to office.
Lawmakers voted 135-50 in favor of the amendment, which would cap future prime ministers at eight years in office.
The measure is written to apply retroactively, meaning Orbán’s previous time in office would count toward the limit.
Orbán served as Hungary’s prime minister for a combined 20 years and remains chairman of the opposition Fidesz party.
“The restoration of the rule of law will not be born from a single law, but every true democratic reconstruction has symbolic and constitutional pillars,” said amendment sponsor Márton Melléthei-Barna.
“This proposal aims to be such a pillar.”
Update:
With 135 supporting, and 50 against, the amendment has been passed today in Hungary’s National Assembly.
Prime Ministers are now limited to serve a maximum of 8 years – meaning Viktor Orban can never run again – and Peter Magyar can only serve 8 years too. https://t.co/2YRRsQ8AxJ pic.twitter.com/jJz1MZfEYK
— Wandy🇭🇺🇪🇺 (@Noirsoldat_) June 15, 2026
Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s government has used its two-thirds parliamentary majority to rapidly advance constitutional reforms promised during last year’s election campaign.
However, questions also remain over whether the restriction can legally apply to time served before the amendment’s passage, potentially leaving the measure open to future legal challenges.
Today the Hungarian Parliament banned Viktor Orbán from being elected prime minister again.
The amendment to the constitution adopted today by the Tisza Party does not allow anyone to be prime minister who has already served at least 8 years as prime minister since 1990.
In…
— András LÁSZLÓ MEP 🇭🇺 (@laszloan) June 15, 2026
The legislation now heads to President Tamás Sulyok for review.
Sulyok has so far resisted calls from Magyar’s government to resign.
If the president returns the bill to parliament, lawmakers could override his objections with another vote.
The amendment also seeks to abolish Hungary’s Sovereign Protection Office, which would allow the government to dismantle public trust foundations that were established during Orbán’s tenure.
The vote marks one of the most significant constitutional changes since Magyar defeated Orban in April’s general election.
A staunch globalist, Magyar won on a platform of restoring close relations with the European Union and ending Hungary’s relationship with Russia.
Ben Kew is a writer and editor. Originally from the UK, he moved to the U.S. to cover Congress for Breitbart News and has since gone on to editorial roles at Human Events, Townhall Media, and Americano Media. He has also written for The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, and The Spectator.
You can email Ben Kew here, and read more of Ben Kew’s articles here.
Ad block users: Some site features may not work correctly while an ad blocker is enabled, because they break scripts and content this website depends on. If you can’t see comments below, for example, please disable your ad blocker.
