The Hungarian government has proposed limiting the prime minister's term to a maximum of eight years, which would prevent Orban's return.

Hungary's new government, led by Péter Magyar, has proposed a constitutional amendment that would limit the prime minister's term to a maximum of eight years, effectively making it impossible for Viktor Orbán to return to office, The Guardian reports.

The draft amendments were submitted on Wednesday, just over a week after the new government took office. It marked the first step by the Hungarians and his Tisza party in dismantling a constitution that has been unilaterally rewritten and amended more than a dozen times as Orban and his Fidesz party worked to turn Hungary into what they called a “petri dish for illiberalism.”

During more than two years of campaigning, the Hungarian repeatedly promised to introduce term limits, describing it as part of a broader effort to restore democratic checks and balances in the country.

While his party celebrated a landslide victory in last month's elections, analysts were quick to assess that the new government faces the difficult task of rebuilding collapsed public services and a stagnant economy, further complicated by the fact that many Fidesz loyalists remain in the state apparatus, media and judiciary.

The draft amendment appears to be an attempt to prevent Orban from exploiting the situation to return, stating that term limits are “crucial” for restoring the rule of law.

"A person who has held the office of Prime Minister for a total of at least eight years, including any interruptions, cannot be elected Prime Minister," the text states.

The reckoning would apply to all prime ministerial terms since the country's democratization in 1990, meaning that Orban, who has served five terms as prime minister since 1998, a total of 20 years in power, would be barred from returning. The amendment, however, is not unassailable, as any future leader with a two-thirds, or supermajority, could propose a new amendment to extend his stay in power.

Another provision of the draft amendment, which is expected to be adopted given Tisa's supermajority in parliament, paves the way for the dissolution of the controversial Office for the Protection of Sovereignty.

The office, established during the final years of Orban's rule, was widely accused of trying to silence government critics by allowing Hungarian intelligence services to access information on individuals and organizations without judicial oversight.

Viktor Orban served as prime minister for five terms, a total of 20 years in power.

As the new government rushes to unblock billions of euros in frozen EU funds, the draft amendments also address a long-standing point of contention with the bloc — regaining control over foundations that were used to run nearly two dozen universities and research centers during Orban's rule, such as the Mathias Corvinus Collegium.

Under the previous government, the boards of directors of these foundations, in many cases staffed by Orban loyalists, were given full control over these assets. This “abolished democratic control” over public assets and resulted in an “abuse of legislative power,” the draft amendment states.

The proposal stipulates that the state can dissolve these foundations. "The amendment makes it clear that, although foundations are private entities, their assets constitute national property," it states.

The draft amendment is expected to be debated next week, when the National Assembly meets.

In the weeks following his election victory, the Hungarian sought to emphasize his government's break with the past, promising to shut down state media outlets that had served as Orban's megaphones, calling on Orban-era officials to resign, and apologizing to teachers, journalists, and public figures who were smeared by the state during Orban's rule.

His government has also made it clear that this sharp turn extends to foreign relations. In mid-May, new Foreign Minister Anita Orbán announced that she had summoned the Russian ambassador to Hungary over the massive drone attack on Ukraine, a reversal from her predecessor’s perceived servile attitude toward Moscow.

She wrote on social media: "I told the Russian ambassador that it is completely unacceptable for Hungary that they are now attacking Transcarpathia, the home of the Hungarian minority. I stressed that Russia should do everything possible to achieve an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful and lasting end to the war as soon as possible."