Hungary's Parliament Lifts Immunity for Prime Minister Péter Magyar and Two Former Ministers
Lawmakers vote to allow criminal investigations into Magyar over alleged misdemeanor theft and into two Orbán-era ministers for corruption allegations.
Hungary's Parliament voted Monday to suspend the parliamentary immunity of three lawmakers, including Prime Minister Péter Magyar, to allow prosecutors to proceed with ongoing criminal investigations. The move also affects two former ministers from the Viktor Orbán administration, who face corruption charges.
Magyar is being investigated on suspicion of misdemeanor theft. Prosecutors allege that in June 2024, he took a man's mobile phone during a nightclub altercation and threw it into the Danube River. Magyar has denied the accusation, calling the case, which involves damages of just over $300, politically motivated.
He criticized prosecutors for requesting the lifting of his immunity concurrently with that of the two former Orbán-era ministers, whose alleged crimes involve the misuse of approximately $53.6 million in public funds and the acceptance of over $37.2 million in bribes.
Prior to the vote, Magyar addressed lawmakers, stating, "I have not committed a crime, I take responsibility for all my actions." He added, "Anyone who has nothing to hide comes forward openly," referencing his earlier call for his party to support the lifting of his immunity.
Parliamentary immunity, a common practice in European democracies, is intended to shield lawmakers from politically motivated persecution, enabling them to perform their duties and express opinions without fear of government reprisal.
During Orbán's previous government, efforts were made to lift Magyar's immunity when he was a member of the European Parliament, but these attempts were repeatedly rejected by the body.
The Parliament also voted to suspend the immunity of Balázs Hankó, former Minister of Culture under Orbán, who is alleged to have overseen the misuse of around $53.6 million from Hungary's National Cultural Fund. Prosecutors claim Hankó personally directed fund allocations based on political considerations and to support Orbán's Fidesz party's campaign expenses prior to the April election.
Miklós Seszták, Orbán's former Development Minister, also had his immunity suspended. He is suspected of accepting over $37.2 million in bribes and kickbacks related to vehicle procurements for Hungary's state bus company and to state construction projects.
Lawmakers from Fidesz and its coalition partner, the Christian Democrats, abstained from Monday's vote, characterizing the charges against their members as political persecution by Magyar's administration. No indictments have been issued against the lawmakers whose immunity was suspended.