Hungary’s Parliament has voted to remove the parliamentary immunity of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, enabling prosecutors to move forward with a criminal investigation related to an alleged theft incident in Budapest. The decision, made with 139 votes in favor and none against or abstaining, relates to an incident that occurred in June 2024 at a Budapest nightclub, where Magyar is accused of taking a man’s phone after a confrontation and subsequently throwing it into the Danube. The phone was later recovered. Magyar has denied any wrongdoing, labeling the case as politically motivated, and has stated his willingness to face the investigation by calling for his own immunity to be revoked.
In addition to Magyar, Parliament has also lifted the immunity of former Culture and Innovation Minister Balázs Hankó and former National Development Minister Miklós Seszták. Both are under separate investigations for alleged corruption. Following the parliamentary decision, prosecutors detained Seszták, who has declared his innocence.
The removal of parliamentary immunity from these officials allows prosecutors to proceed with their investigations unimpeded. While these cases are ongoing, it is important to note that no final convictions have been made at this stage.