"I have sworn an oath to uphold the Fundamental Law and defend the constitutional order, and this oath binds me to the majority, the minority, and the entire political nation alike. I understand that there are social and political intentions aimed at redefining the powers of the president, but there is no constitutional basis for my resignation. I will remain faithful to my oath, and as long as the exercise of my office is not rendered impossible, I intend to fulfil the mandate I have undertaken," Sulyok said.

Put to him that Magyar called him unfit or unworthy to be the guardian of the rule of law in Hungary, he said: "The categories of unfitness and unworthiness are not included in the Hungarian constitution. These are political value judgments ... it is not my business to deal with political opinions. The constitution does not recognise such categories."

Sulyok insisted that Magyar's inaugural address as prime minister had been the first sign that "a political reinterpretation of the constitutional status and powers of the president of the republic" had begun. "In certain cases, it may be a legitimate political demand and aspiration to rethink a constitutional institution that has essentially operated in an unchanged form for 36 years."

"I have now found myself in the crosshairs of this intent to reinterpret: through my person, the very institution of the presidency," he said.

While he understood the "new political expectations", he said they did not alter his legal status. "That said, it is still true that if there is indeed a strong political demand to redefine the role of the President of the Republic, then sooner or later this must also be reflected in the law."

Asked whether he saw Tisza Party’s victory as a simple change of government or a genuine regime change, Sulyok said the regime change occurred in 1990, when the country dismantled the one-party communist dictatorship.

"Since then, a democratic constitutional state has been operating in accordance with our constitution, and governments change -- or do not change - in parliamentary elections, depending on the results. Now a change of government has taken place," he said.

Sulyok stated that he had held "candid and objective" discussions with Magyar before the inaugural session of the new parliament and before the appointment of the ministers.

When asked whether, as head of state, he would not have had the leeway and authority to take a more proactive role in the matter of child protection, Sulyok said the role of the president had compelled him to "remain aloof from party-political disputes forming over professional issues."

The president "must intervene only if a systemic disruption arises in the functioning of the democratic institutional system. In these matters, however, the authorities have done their work, so the president cannot interfere in ongoing proceedings," he said, adding that the head of state is to speak out only in exceptional cases, particularly during election campaigns.

Commenting on the government’s intention to remove him from office, he said: "Based on statements by Justice Minister Marta Gorog, I assume that they are considering solutions that comply with the rule of law, European, and international constitutional standards."

Asked about the official photos published by MTI of the inauguration of Agriculture Minister Szabolcs Bona, from which he had been cropped out to only show Magyar and Bona, Sulyok said: "I don’t usually concern myself with whether I’m in a photo or not."

Responding to the interview, Magyar said in a Facebook post that "during his inglorious two-year term as president, Tamas Sulyok failed the test of human, legal, and political competence."

Magyar said Sulyok had been former prime minister "Viktor Orban’s puppet president", appointed because "Orban needed a head of state for whom loyalty to Fidesz comes first and the protection of constitutionality and national unity come last."

"Hungary, however, needs a president who is loyal not to a political camp, but to the Hungarian nation and to every Hungarian, including the poorest and most vulnerable. A president who helps reunite the nation and does not merely try to explain away his own irredeemable record, who does not go against the will of the Hungarian people and the transition to democracy, but serves his country."

Magyar lambasted Sulyok, saying he had lied in the interview about "many things … for example, about the scope of the president’s duties, regarding the children crippled by Orban’s child protection policies and about the private discussions that took place between the two of us."

He said that during their first meeting, Sulyok had signalled he would consider resigning rather than rejecting it.

At their second meeting, "he simply asked whether, if he decided to resign, it would be appropriate to discuss the details with the justice minister," Magyar said. "It is obvious that since our last meeting, he has received instructions from the mafia boss that he should stay."

"There is nothing to discuss. In the propaganda interview, Sulyok tried to to deny that millions of Hungarians voted for regime change on April 12… The Hungarian people view [Sulyok] as an obstacle to the transition to democracy and to a functioning, humane Hungary," Magyar said, adding: "Tamas Sulyok must leave, and will leave, which he can still do voluntarily until May 31."

Retvari calls on Magyar to apologise to president by May 31

The Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP) expects Prime Minister Peter Magyar issue a formal apology to President Tamas Sulyok by May 31, the opposition party's parliamentary group leader said on Monday.

In a video message, Bence Retvari cited Hungary's constitution, which states that the President of the Republic shall be inviolable. "This is what Peter Magyar himself swore to uphold," Retvari said.

"For the past two weeks, Peter Magyar has done nothing but constantly threaten and insult the president. It is time for him to apologise to Tamas Sulyok," Retvari said, adding that KDNP expected the apology by May 31.

Photo: Sulyok Tamás Official

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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