Orbán dominoes start falling: Hungary’s accountability drive reaches ex-Fidesz ministers (Day 135 of the Tisza government)

More than a year ago, we launched our Hungary Briefing series, in which we provided weekly roundups of news from Hungary’s election campaign. The series continues as we report on developments following the historic April election and the actions of the Tisza government. This week, we cover: Accountability efforts gather pace Péter Magyar’s clash with the prosecution service A battle against Lőrinc Mészáros Poll of the week: Tisza has lost some support, but not much Accountability efforts gather pace Over the past week, it has become difficult to keep track of which influential public figures have become the subjects of criminal proceedings in Hungary, and in connection with which cases. The situation is somewhat reminiscent of Slovakia in autumn 2020, when people appointed under Smer were being handcuffed almost daily. Events in Hungary are moving even faster, however: the authorities have quickly reached the political level of alleged abuses of power, and two ministers from the Viktor Orbán government could be behind bars within days. Those already under investigation The following figures came under police scrutiny over the past week: Last Thursday, businessman Dániel Jellinek, one of Hungary’s wealthiest people, and Norbert Szivek, a former chief executive of the Hungarian National Asset Management company, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in overpriced bus purchases between 2015 and 2018. On Tuesday, prosecutors requested the suspension of the parliamentary immunity of Miklós Seszták, Balázs Hankó and Péter Magyar. Proceedings have been launched against Seszták on suspicion of bribery. He may have received 11 billion forints (c.€27m) in bribes while serving as development minister in the Orbán government between 2014 and 2018. He is currently a member of parliament for the KDNP. Hankó headed the Ministry of Culture and Innovation from 2024 to 2026. He was minister when the National Cultural Fund distributed 17 billion forints (€42m) in public money to artists close to Fidesz to help the party’s election campaign. Magyar’s case is different. He is suspected of taking the phone of a man who was filming him at a Budapest nightclub in 2024 and throwing it into the Danube. The parliamentary immunity of all three politicians could be suspended as early as Monday. On the same day, police questioned György Matolcsy, the former governor of the Hungarian National Bank, as a suspect. He is suspected of abuse of office in connection with allegations that the central bank threatened and blackmailed Erste Bank into removing former Hungarian central bank governor András Simor from its supervisory board. On Wednesday, police searched a company behind the Fidesz-aligned Center for Fundamental Rights. The organisation was one of Fidesz’s most important think-tanks and employed Marcin Romanowski, a former Polish deputy justice minister who is wanted by the authorities, after he fled to Hungary. Orbán’s government had granted asylum to Romanowski and former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro; the Tisza government revoked it. Both Polish politicians have since left Hungary. Romanowski was most recently spotted in Transnistria, a Russian-influenced region of Moldova. Magyar’s clash with the prosecution service To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.Read without limitsAlready a subscriber? Login