Hungary’s Tisza government moves to cap parliamentary terms at 12 years

The proposed legislative package, dubbed Purgatory, aims to fundamentally restructure the Hungarian state by curbing the tenure of long-standing politicians. If enacted, the 12-year cap would force a sudden generational turnover within Fidesz and its allies. According to analysis by the weekly HVG, 22 of the party's 52 current MPs would be barred from running in future cycles, including high-profile figures such as Gergely Gulyás, Péter Szijjártó, János Lázár, Bence Tuzson, and Máté Kocsis.

While the government markets the reform as an emergency measure to overhaul the system built by Orbán, the proposal has sparked debate regarding its long-term stability. Political analyst Zoltán Lakner warned that while an executive term limit enjoys broad support, restricting parliamentary service could invite unintended consequences. He noted that such barriers might eventually attract individuals with different motivations who seek to exploit institutional access rather than reinforce democratic safeguards. The government has opened the proposals for public consultation, with feedback on the constitutional amendments accepted until 27 June, ahead of a planned full-scale revision of the constitution via referendum.