Hungary arrests two former Orbán ministers in corruption probe
Parliament lifted immunity for Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták, leading to Seszták's pre-trial detention as the new government pursues graft allegations.
KEY POINTS
- Parliament unanimously lifted immunity for former ministers Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták on Monday
- Seszták ordered to 30-day pre-trial detention on Wednesday for suspected bribery; Hankó questioned but not detained
- Prosecutors allege Hankó misallocated ~50 million euros from National Cultural Fund in 2025-2026
- Arrests are first major action under PM Péter Magyar's "Operation Purgatory" anti-corruption drive
- Viktor Orbán calls proceedings "neo-communist tactics" and political theatre
Hungarian authorities arrested two prominent lawmakers from the previous Orbán administration this week on corruption charges. Parliament voted 139-0 on Monday to lift the immunity of Balázs Hankó, former culture and innovation minister, and Miklós Seszták, former development minister, allowing prosecutors to pursue investigations into alleged misuse of public funds.
A Budapest court ordered 30 days of pre-trial detention for Seszták on Wednesday, citing risks to the investigation into suspected official bribery. His lawyer has appealed the ruling, and Seszták maintains his innocence. Hanko was questioned but not detained.
“They cannot imprison half the country.”
Prosecutors allege Hankó unlawfully allocated around 50 million euros from the National Cultural Fund in 2025 and 2026, including money intended for election campaigns. The arrests mark the first high-profile actions under Prime Minister Péter Magyar's "Operation Purgatory," launched in June to investigate corruption under Viktor Orbán.
Orbán denounced the moves as "neo-communist tactics" and political repression, warning that "they cannot imprison half the country." His Fidesz party and its KDNP affiliate have been in opposition since the 2026 election that brought Magyar's Tisza Party to power with a two-thirds majority.
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