Hungary’s Parliament has lifted the immunity of Prime Minister Peter Magyar and two former ministers under ex-leader Viktor Orban, clearing the way for separate criminal investigations.
The decision covers Magyar, former culture minister Balazs Hanko and former development minister Miklos Sesztak. Parliament voted overwhelmingly to remove their immunity after prosecutors requested investigations into the three.
Magyar, who faces a separate investigation over an alleged theft case, had specifically asked for his immunity to be lifted, saying he wanted the case to proceed so he could clear his name.
Prosecutors allege that Magyar took a man’s phone after the man filmed him at a nightclub in 2024 before throwing the device into the Danube River. Magyar has denied wrongdoing and described the case as politically motivated.
The investigations involving Hanko and Sesztak concern alleged corruption and misuse of public funds during the previous administration. They represent the first criminal investigations targeting senior figures from Orban’s 16-year rule over Hungary, according to reports.
Hanko, a Fidesz lawmaker and former culture minister, is accused of misusing more than €40 million in public funds. Prosecutors allege the money was used for political purposes, including financing the 2026 parliamentary election campaign and benefiting certain individuals.
Authorities seized Fidesz computer servers in July as part of the investigation. Orban subsequently accused authorities of conducting what he described as a fabricated investigation aimed at weakening his party.
In a separate case, Sesztak, a lawmaker from Fidesz ally KDNP, is being investigated over allegations that he accepted millions of euros in bribes while serving as national development minister between 2014 and 2018. The case reportedly involves the purchase of second-hand buses at inflated prices. Both former ministers deny wrongdoing.
Orban’s Fidesz party and its coalition partner KDNP boycotted the parliamentary session in which the immunity votes were held.
Magyar’s Tisza party swept to power in April after campaigning on promises to investigate alleged corruption and abuse of power during Orban’s 16-year tenure.
Magyar has also said he wants to abolish parliamentary immunity altogether for criminal offences prosecuted in ordinary courts.
Separately, Parliament rejected the nomination of President Andras Baka’s proposed candidate, cybercrime prosecutor Zoltan Szathmary, for Hungary’s top prosecutor post.
Baka said he would put forward a new candidate to carry out reforms within the prosecution service.
