Final Word from Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Pavlína Janebová, research director at the Association for International Affairs, told Czech TV last night that the removal of Hungarian Pres. Tamás Sulyok through passage of a constitutional amendment was controversial given that Sulyok was legally elected in accord with all the rules in effect at the time but was understandable in the political context. Hungarian PM Péter Magyar promised regime change, she said, and Sulyok's removal is an intermediary step on the path to broader constitutional reform. Czech Pres. Petr Pavel doesn't have the parliamentary majority needed to bring about constitutional reform, but he might have Chief Justice Josef Baxa of the Constitutional Court. Justice Min. Jeroným Tejc is taking aim at Baxa and Justice Pavel Šámal for "overstepping" the Court's authority, but few would deny that if the Court did indeed decide to broaden the powers of the president, it would have the authority to do so. It would be controversial, but for many it would be understandable in the political context. [ AMO Television Nato summit Ankara Turkey ]