- Hungary's parliament voted 139-0 to lift Prime Minister Peter Magyar's immunity from prosecution, along with that of two former ministers, Balazs Hanko and Miklos Sesztak.
- Magyar had previously called on lawmakers to lift his immunity, stating he would act the same way again to defend against harassment.
- In June 2024, Magyar, then an MEP, allegedly took a mobile phone from a man filming him at a Budapest nightclub and threw it into the Danube.
- Prosecutors had previously requested the European Parliament to lift Magyar's immunity, but the request was declined.
- The case was reopened after Magyar became prime minister in April 2024.
Hungary's parliament has lifted the immunity of Prime Minister Peter Magyar and two former ministers in a unanimous 139-0 vote, following a request from the Prosecutor's Office.12348
The decision comes amid investigations into allegations of misconduct involving Magyar, who is accused of taking a mobile phone from a man filming him at a Budapest nightclub and throwing it into the Danube in June 2024.5
Magyar, whose center-right Tisza party took power in April, described the case as a "farce" and claimed it was an attempt to link him to corruption allegations against former officials from Viktor Orbán's government.
“I would do it again, and if necessary, I will face the consequences,” Magyar stated, defending his actions as a response to harassment by a “paid provocateur.”
Alongside Magyar, former Culture and Innovation Minister Balazs Hanko is under investigation for alleged misuse of public funds, while former National Development Minister Miklos Sesztak faces separate bribery allegations related to state contracts.
The vote to lift immunity is seen as a significant step in Magyar's commitment to tackling corruption, a key focus of his administration.
“Those who have nothing to hide are not afraid to face the justice system,” he added, reinforcing his stance on accountability.
The decisions will take effect after being signed by parliamentary speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer and President András Baka, and published in Hungary's official gazette.
“The vote follows a request from prosecutors after they reopened a 2024 case where Magyar allegedly threw a man's phone into the Danube. Magyar, who had called for the vote, said he would act the same way again to defend friends from a 'paid provocateur'.”
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