A new political confrontation has erupted in Hungary after prosecutors carried out a search of the headquarters of Fidesz, the party formerly led by Viktor Orbán, as part of an investigation into suspected misuse of public funds.
The raid was announced by Fidesz itself, which is now in opposition after losing power in the latest elections to the newly established governing party Tisza. The party accused the government of Prime Minister Péter Magyar of attempting to obstruct its operations and target its political structures.
“Prosecutors arrived without warning at the facility where Fidesz’s servers are located, with the aim of seizing the party’s entire communication system and databases,” Fidesz said in a statement published on Facebook.
The party claimed that such an action had not taken place in Hungary since 1990, following the collapse of the communist regime, and accused the new government of engaging in what it described as an “aggressive tyranny” against its political opponents.
The government and Prime Minister Magyar have rejected accusations that they are pursuing an authoritarian approach toward the opposition. Magyar said he expects official information from the prosecutor’s office regarding the operation.
The raid reportedly relates to an investigation into suspected “misappropriation of funds and other criminal offenses” linked to the National Cultural Fund (NKA), according to prosecutors in Hungary’s southern Bács-Kiskun region.
Authorities have not released further details, but the investigation reportedly concerns decisions on the allocation of grants worth more than 17 billion forints, approximately $53.9 million.
Several current and former officials have already been involved in criminal proceedings related to these funds, although they have denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation was launched following allegations that state funds had been distributed in a non-transparent manner to artists and organizations allegedly connected to Fidesz. Orbán’s party has repeatedly denied corruption allegations.
The development comes amid a major political shift in Hungary. Tisza won the April elections, ending 16 years of Fidesz rule under Viktor Orbán. Prime Minister Péter Magyar has pledged to restore democratic institutions and bring Hungary closer to the European Union’s mainstream policies after years of disputes between Brussels and Orbán’s government over rule of law, corruption and minority rights.
Fidesz, now in opposition, has continued accusing the new government of authoritarian behavior, while Tisza has presented the fight against corruption as one of its main priorities.
