6 days ago
Former Hungarian Minister Detained Over Cultural Fund Allegations
Hungarian prosecutors are investigating claims that money from a national arts fund was not distributed fairly.
They say the fund may have given billions of forints to people and groups connected to the Fidesz party.
Balazs Hanko, a former culture minister and current member of parliament, was detained and questioned.
Parliament first removed his legal protection, called parliamentary immunity.
Hanko says he did nothing wrong and says the case is politically motivated.
Another former minister, Miklos Sesztak, was also detained in a separate bribery investigation.
He denies wrongdoing too.
The investigations are part of a wider political argument about corruption and public money in Hungary.
Former culture minister and current lawmaker Balazs Hanko was detained and questioned as a suspect over alleged misappropriation at Hungary’s National Cultural Fund.
Hungarian lawmakers voted to lift Hanko’s parliamentary immunity before his detention at the National Tax and Customs Administration.
Prosecutors are investigating claims that the fund awarded billions of forints in state grants through a non-transparent process to artists and organizations linked to Fidesz.
Hanko denied wrongdoing and called the case a political show trial; those accused in the broader allegations also denied wrongdoing.
Former national development minister Miklos Sesztak was separately detained in an alleged bribery investigation, which he also denies.
- Who
- Former culture minister and lawmaker Balazs Hanko was detained; former minister Miklos Sesztak was also detained in a separate case. Prosecutors are investigating alleged wrongdoing involving the National Cultural Fund.
- What
- Hanko was taken into custody and questioned as a suspect over alleged misappropriation at the National Cultural Fund.
- Where
- Hanko was detained at Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration; the alleged misappropriation concerns the National Cultural Fund.
- When
- Hanko was detained late Monday, and prosecutors announced the action on Tuesday, September 29.
- Why
- Prosecutors said the detention was part of an investigation into alleged misappropriation, following claims that cultural grants were allocated through a non-transparent process.
Anti-corruption investigation
Political persecution claims
Nature of the case
Anti-corruption investigation
Prosecutors say Hanko’s detention and questioning are part of an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged misappropriation at the National Cultural Fund.
Political persecution claims
Hanko says his conscience is clear and describes the case as a politically motivated show trial.
Cultural grant allocation
Anti-corruption investigation
People who made the allegations say the fund directed billions of forints in state grants to Fidesz-linked artists and organizations through a non-transparent process.
Political persecution claims
The people accused in connection with the grant allegations deny wrongdoing, and the report does not establish that the alleged misconduct occurred.
Broader corruption claims
Anti-corruption investigation
Peter Magyar says corruption and misuse of public funds cost Hungary 8% to 10% of gross domestic product in recent years and presents the investigations as part of an anti-graft drive.
Political persecution claims
Viktor Orban denies allowing corruption to go unchecked during his 16-year rule.
Key facts
- Main suspect
- Balazs Hanko, a former culture minister and current member of parliament
- Alleged offense
- Misappropriation
- Investigated institution
- Hungary’s National Cultural Fund
- Political connection alleged
- Billions of forints in grants were allegedly directed through a non-transparent process to artists and organizations linked to Fidesz
- Parliamentary action
- Lawmakers voted to lift Hanko’s parliamentary immunity
- Separate detention
- Former national development minister Miklos Sesztak was detained over alleged bribery
- Denials
- Hanko called the case a political show trial, while Sesztak and others involved denied wrongdoing
Quotes
Hungarian prosecutors
Hungarian prosecutors who announced Hanko’s detention and questioning
“As a result of an ongoing investigation … into the criminal offence of misappropriation … the prosecutor’s office took Member of Parliament Balazs Hanko into custody and questioned him as a suspect.”
theprint.in
“Yesterday was an important day. After long decades of lies, millions of Hungarians experienced for the first time what true regime change and equality before the law mean”
theprint.in
Sources
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