Hungarian MPs Face Suspension Over Alleged Misuse of Cultural Funds

In a statement to MTI, MP Hankó Balázs described the National Cultural Fund disbursements as a politically driven procedure and defended their legality. The Central Prosecutor's Office has requested that the parliament suspend the immunity of Balázs, KDNP deputy Seszták Miklós, and former Prime Minister Magyar Péter as part of separate investigations into cultural subsidies, a historic bus-company procurement case, and a 2024 telephone matter.

Balázs alleges that his detention was repeatedly prompted by political actors, naming Magyar Péter, Tarr Zoltán, Nagy Ervin and cultural influencers as pressure sources. He also noted that the intended review of the cultural grants' purpose was never completed, and that the funding decisions adhered to applicable laws and supported Hungarian culture. The prosecutor’s parallel moves signal a broader crackdown on alleged misuse of public funds and political interference.