Hungary Recovers $20 Million in Cash from Former Minister

Hungarian authorities recovered between $19.5 million and $20 million in hidden cash during a bribery investigation into Péter Magyar's predecessor's administration. The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office found the funds—comprising over 5 billion forints, 2.6 million euros, and $1.2 million—buried in forests and concealed in warehouses, agricultural buildings, a residential property, and a high-value safe.

Former National Development Minister Miklós Seszták is suspected of accepting more than $37.2 million in bribes and kickbacks linked to state vehicle procurements and construction. Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who took office following the April election, described the discovery as the end of a "mafia" led by the Fidesz-KDNP coalition. He stated, "As of today, Viktor Orbán is a proven mafia boss. A fallen mafia boss. And Fidesz is a criminal organization."

The seizure is part of a wider anti-corruption initiative called Operation Purgatory. This campaign has led to the detention of former Central Bank governor György Matolcsy for alleged misuse of public assets and the arrest of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's brother on human trafficking charges. Orbán has dismissed the investigations as political "tyranny."