Hungarian President Tamas Sujok has rejected calls from new Prime Minister Peter Magyar to resign, saying in an interview published on Monday that there is no justification for his resignation.
Hungary's TISZA party convincingly defeated former leader Viktor Orban's Fidesz in elections in April, ending his 16-year rule and promising to address rule of law issues and other reforms at the heart of disputes between Budapest and the European Union.
Calling the election a "vote for regime change," the Hungarian is ramping up pressure on Sujok, who was supported by Fidesz, and other officials to resign by the end of May.
"Currently, there is no legal reason or constitutional justification that could justify my resignation," Šujok told Index.hu.
"I remain faithful to my oath and, as long as the performance of my duties is not impossible, I intend to fulfill the mandate I have assumed."
The president's role in Hungary is largely ceremonial, although Sujok can return laws to parliament for reconsideration or refer them to the Constitutional Court, which could hamper Hungary's reform momentum.
The Hungarian demanded the resignations of Šujok and other "puppets" appointed under Orban, whose policies brought the government into regular conflict with the EU executive and withheld funds from the European bloc.
In an interview with Index.hu, Šujok said that the president must express the unity of the nation and rejected claims that the elections represented a regime change, stating that it was a change of government.
The Hungarian said that if Šujok does not resign, he will use his party's large mandate to amend the constitution and other laws to force him to leave office.
In response to Šujok's interview, the Hungarian wrote on Facebook on Monday that Hungary needs a president who is not loyal to any political camp and reiterated that the president is a "puppet of a failed system."
"You have to leave! And you will leave," he said.
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