Hungarian Parliament Lifts Immunity for Prime Minister Peter Magyar and Two Former Orban-Era Ministers Amid Corruption Probes

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar speaks during a news conference at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant on July 31, 2026, in Paks, Hungary [Janos Kummer/Getty Images]. Hungary’s Parliament has stripped Prime Minister Peter Magyar and two ministers in the former nationalist government of Viktor Orban of their parliamentary immunity, opening the path for prosecutors to launch separate criminal inquiries.

Monday's vote followed a specific request by Magyar—who faces allegations of theft—to waive his immunity so he could defend himself against what he termed “character assassination.” Meanwhile, the probes targeting the former Orban-era ministers mark the first major corruption investigations directed at high-ranking officials from Viktor Orban’s 16 years in power. Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the measure, while Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party and its ally KDNP chose to boycott the parliamentary session.

The legislative vote came in response to a formal request submitted by prosecutors seeking permission to investigate Peter Magyar, former Minister of Culture Balazs Hanko, and former Minister of National Development Miklos Sesztak. Magyar is under scrutiny regarding a June 2024 incident at a Budapest nightclub, where prosecutors claim he seized a mobile phone from an individual recording him and tossed it into the Danube River. Magyar has dismissed the investigation as a “sham,” previously accusing prosecutors of attempting to merge the former ministers' legal troubles with a failed political smear campaign.

Regarding the corruption allegations, Balazs Hanko—a legislator representing Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party—faces accusations of embezzling over 40 million euros ($46m) in public funds. Prosecutors claim these financial resources were diverted to support the 2026 parliamentary election campaign and for personal enrichment. Miklos Sesztak, a lawmaker affiliated with KDNP, is being investigated for allegedly accepting upwards of $37.2m in bribes and kickbacks tied to state bus company vehicle procurements and various state construction initiatives. Both former ministers have firmly denied any wrongdoing.

These developments unfold less than half a year after Peter Magyar’s Tisza party secured a landslide victory that ended Viktor Orban’s 16-year tenure. Magyar had built his political platform on promises to combat corruption, reinstate rule-of-law protections, and repair diplomatic ties between Hungary and the European Union. Since taking office, his administration has prioritized tackling alleged corruption and inflated public procurement costs, including proposals to establish a dedicated asset-recovery office targeting illicit activities stemming from the Viktor Orban era.