Hungary strips PM Magyar and two ex-ministers of immunity in historic anti-corruption move

Key points

• Hungarian parliament voted 139-0 to lift the immunity of PM Peter Magyar and former ministers Balazs Hanko and Miklos Sesztak.
• Magyar is under investigation for allegedly stealing a phone and throwing it into the Danube River in June 2024; he requested the waiver to prove his innocence.
• Hanko faces embezzlement charges involving over 40 million euros in public funds, while Sesztak is accused of accepting over 37.2 million dollars in bribes linked to state bus and construction contracts.
• Fidesz and KDNP boycotted the session, labeling the proceedings a 'political show trial,' while Magyar’s Tisza party supported the move as part of its anti-corruption platform.
• The decisions take effect after being signed by parliamentary speaker Agnes Forsthoffer and President Andras Baka, with Sesztak already taken into custody.

Background

This development follows Magyar’s landslide victory in April 2026, which ended Orban’s 16-year rule. Magyar campaigned on restoring rule-of-law safeguards and tackling corruption, including plans for a new asset-recovery office. The EU Commission recently proposed releasing 4.2 billion euros in frozen funds for Hungary, citing these reforms, though some funds remain blocked over asylum and academic freedom concerns. The 2024 nightclub incident had previously been blocked by the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee, which deemed it politically motivated.

How outlets are covering it

Al Jazeera emphasizes Magyar’s request to lift his own immunity to combat 'character assassination' and frames the ministers’ cases as the first corruption probes against Orban-era leaders. TVP World highlights the unanimous vote and Magyar’s statement that 'everyone is equal before the law,' noting his willingness to face consequences. Euractiv focuses on the historical significance of a sitting PM losing immunity and details the prosecution’s allegations, including the phone being 'intentionally dropped' into the Danube. It also notes that Fidesz called the Hanko case a 'political show trial' and that Sesztak was taken into custody shortly after the vote. All sources agree on the vote count and the core charges but differ in emphasis: Al Jazeera and TVP World focus on Magyar’s agency, while Euractiv details the procedural and legal nuances.

Why it matters

The lifting of immunity signals a shift in Hungary’s political landscape, with the new government pursuing high-profile corruption cases against its predecessors. It tests the rule of law in Hungary and may influence EU relations, as the EU has linked fund releases to such reforms. The cases could set precedents for accountability in public procurement and political ethics in the country.

What to watch

Prosecutors will now proceed with interrogations and formal charges against Magyar, Hanko, and Sesztak. The decisions must be signed by the parliamentary speaker and president to take effect. Magyar’s government may expand its anti-corruption efforts, including the asset-recovery office, while Fidesz is expected to continue opposing the probes as politically motivated. The EU may monitor these cases as part of its review of Hungary’s rule-of-law compliance.