Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar on Saturday proposed limiting members of parliament to a maximum of 12 years in office as part of a broader package of constitutional reforms.
Magyar announced the measure on Facebook, saying it formed part of amendments he had submitted to parliament.
In mid-June, Magyar’s centrist Tisza party, which holds a two-thirds majority in parliament, approved a constitutional amendment limiting the prime minister to two four-year terms. The change bars former right-wing prime minister Viktor Orbán, who was voted out of office in April, from returning to the job.
Orbán served as prime minister from 1998 to 2002 and again from 2010 until his election defeat. Under the new rules, Magyar himself would also be limited to one re-election.
Magyar first unveiled plans for a 12-year cap on parliamentary service two weeks ago. Unlike the term limit for prime ministers, the measure was not part of his election manifesto and has drawn criticism from some sections of the public.
The prime minister said, however, that the proposal had received strong support, with tens of thousands of people submitting comments and suggestions online.
According to Magyar, the new limits on parliamentary service would take effect after the next scheduled parliamentary election in 2030, meaning the current legislature would not be affected.
The constitutional package, which parliament could approve in the coming weeks, also provides for the removal of President Tamás Sulyok, who was appointed during Orbán’s time in office.
In addition, age and term limits for constitutional court judges and members of the supreme court are intended to rejuvenate and depoliticize the judiciary, which critics say remains heavily staffed by Orbán loyalists.