Hungarian prosecutors, supported by the tax authority, executed a raid on Tuesday at offices containing data servers utilized by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party. According to Marianna Bodó, a spokesperson for the Bács-Kiskun County chief prosecutor’s office, the operation is part of an active investigation into the suspected misuse of grant money originating from the National Cultural Fund during the tenure of the previous government.
The investigation centers on the alleged misappropriation of approximately 17 billion forints, equivalent to about $53.5 million. Authorities have charged six current and former officials in connection with the case. These individuals are accused of distributing funds in an opaque manner to performers and artists who maintained ties to Fidesz, some of whom actively campaigned for the party leading up to the national election in April. All accused parties have denied any wrongdoing.
The National Tax and Customs Administration’s regional criminal directorate assisted in the raid. Bodó noted that further details remain restricted to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. Fidesz issued a statement via Facebook claiming that investigators entered the premises without prior notice, intending to seize the party’s entire database and communications infrastructure. The party described the event as unprecedented in Hungary since the end of Communism in 1990.
The raid occurs amid a significant shift in Hungary's political landscape. After governing for 16 years, Fidesz suffered a major electoral defeat in April. Since taking office in May, current Prime Minister Péter Magyar and his governing Tisza party have moved to dismantle the political and economic systems established during the Orbán era, including the removal of various political appointees and heads of institutions. Fidesz has characterized these actions as a form of tyranny, while the Tisza party maintains that it is fulfilling its electoral mandate. Magyar confirmed on Facebook that he is currently waiting for additional information from the prosecutor's office regarding the raid. Meanwhile, Fidesz has accused the Tisza party of attempting to use legal mechanisms to destroy its political opposition.
