The Hungarian parliament decided to remove President Tamas Sulyok from office; he was widely considered a supporter of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who lost power in April after 16 years in office.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s "Tisza" party, holding a two-thirds majority in parliament, passed the 17th constitutional amendment, terminating the mandates of Sulyok and Constitutional Court President Peter Polt.

The vote was the most tense event in parliament since the new government took office in early May—following a surprise, decisive victory over Orban’s "Fidesz" party in the April 12 election.

Sulyok now has five days to sign the amendment—effectively his own political death warrant—or refer it to the Constitutional Court for review.

Magyar stated that if the president submits the document to the court, he will initiate impeachment proceedings, which would automatically suspend Sulyok from office. Another option is voluntary resignation to avert a constitutional crisis—a step the new government is urging the president to take.

"Fidesz" MPs walked out of the chamber before Monday's vote, accusing "Tisza" of building a tyranny. In "Fidesz's" view, the amendment grants the government arbitrary power to immediately dismiss any state officials.

"The great irony of the situation is that "Fidesz" has become a victim of its own concept of power," opposition presidential candidate Peter Rona told the BBC.