Hungarian parliament lifts immunity of PM and two former ministers

Hungary’s parliament suspended the immunity of Prime Minister Péter Magyar and former ministers Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták at an extraordinary sitting on Monday. Each decision passed with 139 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions. The Fidesz–KDNP alliance did not take part, so the votes were unanimous only among those who voted. Prosecutors say lifting immunity allows them to pursue the existing investigations. [1] [2] [4] [5] [6]

Prosecutors allege that Hankó, a former culture minister, directed the use of National Cultural Fund money for election campaign expenses and applicants’ personal purposes. They put the alleged loss to the state budget at 17.3 billion forints. Hankó says the accusations are false. [5] [2]

In a separate case involving contracts with the state-owned bus operator Volánbusz, prosecutors allege that Seszták and the head of a state asset manager together received more than 11 billion forints in unlawful benefits between 2015 and 2018. Seszták denies committing or knowing of any crime. [6] [9]