Hungary’s Parliament has taken a significant step by lifting the parliamentary immunity of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, paving the way for prosecutors to investigate his alleged involvement in a theft incident in Budapest in 2024. The parliamentary vote saw unanimous support, with 139 votes in favor and none against or abstaining, allowing the legal process to move forward.
The allegations stem from an incident at a Budapest nightclub in June 2024, where Magyar is accused of taking a man’s phone following a confrontation and later disposing of it in the Danube River. The phone was later retrieved. Magyar has consistently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the accusations as politically motivated. In a gesture of transparency, he requested the lifting of his immunity, expressing his readiness to cooperate with the investigation.
In addition to Magyar, the Hungarian Parliament also voted to remove the immunity of former Culture and Innovation Minister Balázs Hankó and former National Development Minister Miklós Seszták. Both former ministers are under investigation in separate cases involving alleged corruption. Following the parliamentary decision, Miklós Seszták was detained by prosecutors, although he maintains his innocence regarding the allegations.
The removal of immunity for these political figures marks a crucial development, as it enables legal authorities to pursue the investigations without the hindrance of parliamentary protection. Despite the allegations, none of the individuals involved have been convicted, and the investigations are ongoing.