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The proposal, submitted by Márton Melléthei-Barna and István Hantosi, would apply to all time served as prime minister since May 2, 1990, including nonconsecutive terms.
Under the amendment, no one who has already served a total of eight years as prime minister could be re-elected to the post. The prime minister’s mandate would automatically end once they have served eight years in office.
The lawmakers argued that restoring the rule of law requires limiting the prime minister’s time in office to a fixed term.
The proposal also takes steps toward abolishing the Sovereignty Protection Office and clarifies that assets managed by public interest asset management foundations, known as KEKVAs, remain national property.
It seeks to reaffirm that the assets of public interest foundations are part of national property, ensuring state accountability.
The amendment would also remove the constitutional clause that makes the protection of Hungary’s constitutional identity and Christian culture a duty of all state bodies, which currently underpins the existence of the Sovereignty Protection Office.
The justification attached to the proposal says that “institutions lacking legitimate public functions and violating fundamental rights have no place in a constitutional democracy.”
The 16th constitutional amendment proposal requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority to pass and would take effect the day after promulgation. Tisza holds 141 of the 199 seats in Parliament, well above the supermajority threshold, meaning the proposal is highly likely to pass.
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