Hungarian lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday that limits the tenure of prime ministers to a maximum of eight years, effectively curbing the possibility of Viktor Orban’s return to power. The vote, which took place in Budapest, saw 135 members of parliament in favor, 50 against, and six abstentions.

The amendment was a central promise of Peter Magyar, a pro-European Union conservative who ousted Orban in April’s elections. Magyar has pledged broad reforms under a campaign he described as a “regime change.” He argued that allowing indefinite terms risks concentrating power in the hands of one individual, citing Orban’s previous tenure as an example of prolonged rule facilitated by systematic adjustments to Hungary’s political framework.

Orban’s party opposed the new limits, contending that such measures might restrict the democratic expression of the electorate. Despite this opposition, the amendment passed with a two-thirds supermajority, which, under Hungarian law, means it did not require a public referendum to take effect.

While the constitutional change restricts prime ministers to two four-year terms, it does not completely exclude Orban from seeking future office, as subsequent legal adjustments could potentially reverse the measure. This marks the 16th amendment to Hungary’s Basic Law since its adoption in 2011.

The amendment also abolished a clause mandating an independent body to protect the country’s “constitutional identity.” This change is seen as preparatory for disbanding the Sovereignty Protection Office, a controversial agency established in 2024 under Orban’s administration. The agency was tasked with investigating alleged foreign influences but primarily focused on critics of Orban’s government, including independent media outlets and NGOs such as Transparency International.

Since Magyar’s electoral victory, the Sovereignty Protection Office has not published any official reports, and parliament is expected to vote at the end of June on a bill proposing the agency’s dissolution.

Hungary’s president, a largely ceremonial role with a two-term limit of five years each, remains unaffected by the new rules, as the prime minister’s position is the country’s chief executive leadership post. The term limits represent a significant institutional shift aimed at preventing extended dominance by a single political figure in Hungary’s evolving political landscape.