Two Former Ministers Detained as Hungary's 'Cleansing Fire’ Operation Gathers Pace
The National Assembly voted 139-0 to lift immunity, and prosecutors say the case involves 17.3 billion forints in disputed spending.
- On Monday, September 28, 2026, Hungarian authorities detained former ministers Balazs Hanko and Miklos Sesztak hours after The National Assembly voted 139-0 to strip their parliamentary immunity in separate criminal investigations.
- Prosecutors allege Sesztak accepted bribes worth approximately €30 million tied to bus procurement and construction contracts, while Hanko is accused of mismanaging funds at the National Cultural Fund, causing significant financial loss.
- Boycotting the immunity vote, Fidesz and Christian Democrat allies labeled the proceedings political revenge, while Prime Minister Peter Magyar simultaneously requested the lifting of his own immunity regarding a 2024 incident.
- Former Prime Minister Viktor Orban broadcast the detention live on Facebook, calling it a 'show trial,' while Magyar described Monday as the first major day of his 'Purification operation' targeting alleged corruption networks.
- The Tisza party, which secured a two-thirds majority in April, aims to dismantle networks built over Orban's 16 years in office by replacing senior officials and reforming the prosecution service to restore independence.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Two former ministers from Orbán's government, Balázs Hankó and Miklós Sesztó, have been arrested on suspicion of corruption and abuse of office after parliament revoked their immunity.
Two former ministers have to be responsible for the suspicion of corruption and money embezzlement in millions. Viktor Orbán accuses the government of tyranny.
Immediately after their parliamentary immunity was lifted, two former ministers from Viktor Orbán's term of office were arrested on Monday. Both politicians are accused of corruption and embezzlement. The arrested were former Minister of Culture and Innovation, Balázs Hankó, and former Minister of National Development, Miklós Seszták. Hankó was also in charge of the National Cultural Fund (NKA) under Prime Minister Orbán.
Balázs Hankó, who served as Minister of Culture in former Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government in Hungary, has been detained on allegations of misuse of public funds from the National Culture Fund. Hankó denies the accusations, while another former minister from the Orban era, Miklós Seszták, has also been detained in a separate bribery investigation.
Two ministers from the former government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) were detained in Hungary on Monday. The Hungarian parliament had previously stripped them of their parliamentary immunity.
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