Hungary: Prosecutors Seize Servers from Opposition Fidesz Party Amid Misuse Probe

Hungarian prosecutors have seized servers and communication systems from the opposition Fidesz party headquarters as part of an investigation into the alleged misuse of around 44.5 million euros from the National Cultural Fund. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has denounced the action, labeling it a "politically fabricated procedure" against his party.

Budapest journalist József Makai told N1 that the investigation concerns the allocation of 17 billion forints (approximately 44.5 million euros) from the National Cultural Fund prior to the elections. Makai cited an example where half a billion forints were allegedly given to a violinist tasked with mobilizing Roma audiences to vote for Fidesz, suggesting the fund was used for political purposes.

Makai believes that the funds were primarily distributed to artists loyal to the former ruling party. The Hungarian portal Telex reported that the investigation involves suspicions of mismanagement and other criminal offenses related to the fund's distribution. Several associates of the fund have been detained, and an individual working for the Fidesz parliamentary group was reportedly arrested as part of the probe.

Responding to Orbán's claims of a politically motivated prosecution, Makai suggested that Orbán and Fidesz are desperately trying to navigate their post-election period as an opposition party that is steadily losing influence. "Now they are at about 20 percent, which is significantly less than they received in the elections," Makai stated. He pointed out that Orbán himself did not take a parliamentary seat, and many of his associates are also not in parliament. Makai noted that Minister Szijjártó, who previously appeared with Serbian President Vučić, has left to work for BYD and returned his parliamentary mandate, implying that Orbán's public statements are a response to their diminished political standing.