Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar Loses Parliamentary Immunity
World
Hungary’s parliament suspended Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s parliamentary immunity on September 28 in connection with an investigation into the alleged theft of a mobile phone. All 139 lawmakers present supported the motion, while representatives of Fidesz and the Christian Democratic People’s Party boycotted the vote.
The case stems from an incident on June 21, 2024, at a nightclub in Budapest. According to prosecutors, Magyar became involved in a dispute with a visitor who was filming him with a phone. He allegedly took the device, put it in his pocket and later threw it into the Danube. The phone was subsequently recovered from the river. The circumstances are also documented in European Parliament materials.
At the time of the incident, Magyar was a member of the European Parliament. In September 2024, Hungarian prosecutors requested that his immunity be waived over an alleged theft of property of minor value, but the European Parliament rejected the request. After his European Parliament mandate ended on May 8, 2026, Magyar became a member of Hungary’s National Assembly and was subsequently elected prime minister.
In September 2026, Hungarian prosecutors again requested the suspension of his parliamentary immunity in order to continue the investigation. Magyar himself said he had no objection to losing his immunity and called on parliament to suspend it. He rejects the prosecution’s account and has described the case as politically motivated.
The suspension of parliamentary immunity does not in itself establish guilt. It removes the parliamentary barrier to the continuation of criminal proceedings under Hungarian law.
At the time of the incident, Magyar was a member of the European Parliament. In September 2024, Hungarian prosecutors requested that his immunity be waived over an alleged theft of property of minor value, but the European Parliament rejected the request. After his European Parliament mandate ended on May 8, 2026, Magyar became a member of Hungary’s National Assembly and was subsequently elected prime minister.
In September 2026, Hungarian prosecutors again requested the suspension of his parliamentary immunity in order to continue the investigation. Magyar himself said he had no objection to losing his immunity and called on parliament to suspend it. He rejects the prosecution’s account and has described the case as politically motivated.
The suspension of parliamentary immunity does not in itself establish guilt. It removes the parliamentary barrier to the continuation of criminal proceedings under Hungarian law.
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