Hungarian authorities have requested the European Parliament to lift the immunity of MEP Péter Magyar, a significant political adversary of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This request, announced by Parliament President Roberta Metsola, marks the third instance regarding Magyar since he was elected last year after establishing his opposition party, Tisza. If his immunity is revoked, authorities in Hungary could investigate and potentially charge him with various offenses, which opposition members deem politically motivated. The European Parliament has not provided further commentary on the issue, reflecting the sensitive nature of such political maneuvering.
The exact offenses tied to this request remain unclear, as Metsola’s office specified that it came from “relevant Hungarian authorities” without providing additional context. There has been speculation in Hungarian media linking the request to allegations of insider trading against Magyar, though these claims were refuted by a spokesperson from the Central Investigative Prosecutor’s (CIP) office, which oversees investigations involving MEPs. CIP previously sought to lift Magyar’s immunity in connection with an altercation at a Budapest night club, and recent requests could stem from private legal actions, such as defamation.
In February, an investigation was initiated by CIP concerning a stock market transaction involving Magyar, who was previously an ally of Orbán’s Fidesz party. It was reported that Magyar made a substantial profit from selling shares in a company associated with Lőrinc Mészáros shortly before a major shareholder announcement. Magyar has strongly denied these allegations, asserting that they are entirely fabricated. As of now, there have been no formal charges laid against him by Hungarian prosecutors, nor has there been a request for immunity waiving sent to Brussels regarding this matter.
In March of this year, the Hungarian Parliament enacted a new transparency law perceived to be directed at obstructing Magyar. This legislation stipulates that failure to comply could result in the withdrawal of an MEP’s mandate. Magyar believes these legal actions are attempts to hinder his participation in future elections, stating that all previous legal challenges he faced in civil court have been unsuccessful. He remains committed to contesting Orbán in the upcoming elections and is prepared to relinquish his immunity should Hungary join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The parliamentary elections in Hungary are scheduled for next year, and recent polling indicates that Magyar’s Tisza party is currently ahead of Orbán’s Fidesz party by four percentage points, with Tisza projected to secure 32% of the vote against Fidesz’s 28%. This shift in public support could signal a significant political turning point for the opposition in Hungary as they prepare for the electoral battle.
The process of addressing the immunity request is expected to be lengthy. Hungarian authorities are unable to prosecute Magyar while he maintains his MEP immunity. After Metsola’s announcement, the matter will be referred to the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee, which will appoint a rapporteur and conduct two rounds of discussions, including a hearing with Magyar. Members of the committee will vote on a recommendation, which will subsequently be presented for a vote in the Parliament’s plenary session. Historically, the European Parliament tends to reject requests perceived as plainly political in nature, underscoring the complexity of this situation.
