Former Hungarian oligarchs reportedly seek immunity deals amid wave of corruption arrests
Sources say a wealthy former Orbán-era oligarch is offering to return assets in exchange for protection from prosecution, while another is quietly complying with government demands.
According to a senior member of the Tisza government, an unnamed, affluent oligarch linked to the previous Orbán era has been contacting officials via intermediaries, offering to surrender assets and cash in return for immunity from ongoing corruption probes. The source did not disclose the individual's identity or the value of the proposed return, nor whether Prime Minister Péter Magyar's cabinet is open to such arrangements.
A second former elite figure is reportedly taking a different route, complying with any asset-return demands while trying to keep his businesses alive through contracts with foreign subcontractors, a tactic likened to that of Austrian firm Strabag under the former regime. These developments come amid a series of high-profile detentions, including property magnate Dániel Jellinek and former state asset manager chief Norbert Szivek, as well as ex-ministers Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták, who were arrested after parliamentary immunity was lifted. The growing crackdown has created uncertainty among those who amassed wealth and influence during the Orbán government.
Why it matters
It shows how Hungary's new leadership may handle past corruption and the fate of powerful business figures.
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