Hungary Parliament Lifts Immunity for Prime Minister and Former Ministers

The Parliament of Hungary voted 139-0 on Monday to lift the parliamentary immunity of Prime Minister Peter Magyar and two former ministers from the administration of Viktor Orbán. The move allows the Central Investigative Prosecutor's Office to proceed with criminal investigations against the three officials.

Magyar faces suspicion of misdemeanor theft following a June 2024 altercation at the Ötkert club in Budapest, where he allegedly took a man's mobile phone and threw it into the Danube River. While Magyar requested that his party vote to lift his immunity to ensure political accountability, he has described the case as a "farce" and claimed the charges are politically motivated.

Simultaneously, Parliament suspended the immunity of former Minister of Culture Balázs Hankó and former Development Minister Miklós Seszták. Hankó is accused of misusing 17.3 billion forints, or approximately $53.6 million, from the National Cultural Fund to cover Fidesz party campaign costs. Seszták is suspected of accepting over $37.2 million in bribes related to state construction and vehicle procurements, specifically linked to the state-owned bus company Volanbusz.

Lawmakers from the Fidesz and Christian Democrats parties boycotted the vote, characterizing the legal proceedings as "political tyranny." None of the three individuals have been indicted.