Two former ministers from Viktor Orbán’s far-right administration have been detained on suspicion of bribery and the misappropriation of public funds, hours after members of parliament voted to strip them of their immunity.
Prosecutors confirmed on Tuesday that Balázs Hankó, who served as Orbán’s culture minister and remains an MP for the nationalist Fidesz party, was taken into custody late Monday. Authorities allege that Hankó misappropriated millions of euros in public money. He has categorically denied any wrongdoing.
The arrests mark a significant development in Hungary, where political figures have faced increased scrutiny following the parliamentary vote to remove the legal protections that typically shield sitting lawmakers from prosecution.
Massive news. Two former ministers detained at once shows how deep the corruption probes might actually go.
Hankó denies the allegations. I wonder if he will find supporters within the party despite the arrest.
Does this signal a wider purge within Fidesz, or just targeted enemies of the current government? The timing feels calculated.
Finally some accountability in Hungary. It is surprising that this happened so quickly after the vote.