August M
Holding onto political power for decades can reshape a nation inside out.
When leadership finally changes hands, the new rulers often rush to rewrite the rules so no single person can ever dominate the government again. A dramatic vote in Central Europe has just locked that philosophy into law, Kyiv Post reports.
Changing the rules
On Monday, Hungary’s parliament approved a sweeping constitutional amendment to restructure the state. The historic decision permanently reshapes the country’s political landscape.
According to the Kyiv Post, the new law introduces a strict eight-year maximum limit for anyone serving as prime minister. The cap restricts leaders to just two terms in office.
The fresh rule carries an immediate and profound impact. It explicitly blocks former premier Viktor Orbán from ever returning to the top job.
Orbán spent 16 years leading the nation before losing power. In April, Prime Minister Péter Magyar ousted the long-serving leader in a landmark election.
Rolling back dominance
Magyar’s party secured a powerful two-thirds majority in parliament during that vote. That dominant position gives the new government the legal muscle it needs to dismantle old systems.
Now, lawmakers are using that power to undo major pieces of legislation left behind by Orbán’s Fidesz party. The latest constitutional shift targets more than just term limits.
According to the Kyiv Post, the amendment states that anyone who previously held the role for eight years or more “cannot be elected prime minister.” The rule tracks all terms served since May 1990.
Reclaiming the state
The changes also pave the way for dismantling controversial state institutions. Parliament plans to dissolve the Sovereignty Protection Office, an agency set up under the previous administration.
Critics argued the office targeted opposition members and independent journalists. The agency frequently accused these groups of working for foreign interests.
In addition, the state is reclaiming control over valuable assets. The government is taking back the founders’ rights for public-interest asset-management foundations.
The previous administration had transferred massive amounts of public wealth into these private groups. According to the Kyiv Post, those transfers involved state assets worth hundreds of billions of forints. Now, that money is heading back under state oversight.
Sources: Kyiv Post
