Two lawmakers from the Tisza parliamentary group submitted a constitutional amendment proposal on Wednesday that would introduce an eight-year limit on the maximum length of a prime minister’s mandate in Hungary.
The proposal, submitted by Márton Melléthei-Barna and István Hantosi, chairman of the parliamentary committee on justice and constitutional affairs, would also initiate steps toward abolishing the Sovereignty Protection Office and redefine the legal status of public interest asset management foundations.
According to the justification attached to the proposal, limiting the duration of a prime minister’s tenure is essential for restoring the rule of law. ‘The amendment aims to ensure that the prime minister may only hold public office for a defined period of time,’ the lawmakers wrote.
The proposal would also clarify that the assets of public interest asset management foundations—known in Hungary as KEKVAs—remain part of the national wealth, meaning the state retains direct responsibility for their management and future.
Under the current constitution, the establishment, operation and dissolution of such foundations are regulated by cardinal laws. The amendment would replace this provision with language stating that KEKVA assets constitute national property, while the government would exercise founder rights and would also have the authority to dissolve the foundations. In such cases, the Hungarian state would become the universal legal successor.
The lawmakers argued that the previous government transferred substantial public assets into these foundations while simultaneously delegating founder rights to their boards of trustees, thereby eliminating democratic oversight over the use of public property. ‘This was the result of an abuse of legislative power,’ the proposal states.
The amendment would also remove from the constitution the clause declaring that protecting Hungary’s constitutional identity and Christian culture is the duty of all state bodies, and that an independent institution established by cardinal law exists to defend constitutional identity.
According to the justification, institutions that ‘do not fulfil a legitimate constitutional function’ and infringe upon fundamental rights should be eliminated from Hungary’s constitutional system.
This constitutional provision previously served as the legal basis for establishing the Sovereignty Protection Office.
The amendment would require a two-thirds majority in parliament to pass and, if approved, would enter into force the day after promulgation.
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