In Hungary, it appears one can move from the parliamentary benches or even the mayor’s office straight to a prison cell — or at the very least an interrogation room — following the change of government. All indications suggest that the authorities had long been in possession of incriminating information concerning the politicians now under investigation, yet for reasons unclear they failed to act, or perhaps were unable to do so. Now, however, both Fidesz and old-left politicians may be heading for prison, after Fidesz MP Zoltán Bóna himself came under investigation weeks earlier in a separate case.
Political earthquake in Budapest
An unusually large political shockwave was triggered yesterday by a sweeping prosecutorial operation affecting several Budapest municipalities and public figures from across the political spectrum. The case is notable not only because coercive measures were taken against former left-wing figures, but also because several well-known Fidesz politicians have been implicated. The Tisza Party might well feel vindicated in its earlier warnings. But what lies behind the affair?
In proceedings launched by the Central Investigative Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of corruption and influence peddling, several prominent politicians were detained yesterday and searches carried out at numerous locations. The developments are particularly striking as the investigation clearly extends beyond a single party or municipality, spanning multiple districts and political camps — suggesting that investigators are examining an extensive network of connections.
The park maintenance scandal — with branches
Undoubtedly the most significant figure to emerge is Zsolt Molnár, former Budapest leader of the Socialist Party (MSZP) and a long-serving Member of Parliament. Prosecutors have sought his pre-trial detention on suspicion of influence peddling. The former MP denies all allegations; a court will decide on his detention.
Molnár’s defence confirmed that Tuesday’s operation is linked to the so-called park maintenance scandal. At its core lies a network of companies, controlled by a well-defined circle, which until 2023 consistently secured contracts for municipal horticultural work across the capital — including mowing, cemetery upkeep, plant care and pruning. These tasks were allegedly carried out at grossly inflated prices, often through subcontractors. According to suspicions, fictitious invoices worth 2.2 billion forints were generated over the years, alongside more than 900 million forints in cash kickbacks. It is partly for this reason that László Kiss, the MSZP and later DK mayor of Óbuda, also found himself in trouble, spending months in pre-trial detention. According to the local authority, however, no investigative actions took place in District III yesterday.
Former Socialist MP may also face prison
A separate criminal case is also ongoing against Molnár. According to the charges, in 2019 he accepted a bribe of 40 million forints from a company executive in exchange for not obstructing that firm’s success in an IT procurement tender issued by Budapest’s public transport company, BKV. Parliament suspended his immunity in 2024 in connection with the case.
Gergely Őrsi, the widely regarded and comfortably re-elected mayor of District II, was also brought in for questioning, with searches conducted both at his home and office. Based on currently available information, however, the precise nature of the allegations against him remains unclear.
Zsolt Láng — one of Fidesz’s most prominent Budapest politicians, long-time mayor of District II and later a Member of Parliament — is also implicated. According to reports by 24.hu, he was among those detained during Tuesday’s prosecutorial operation.
Csaba Gór, another key Fidesz figure in District II and currently leader of the party’s local group, has likewise been named in connection with the measures, as has Péter Puskás, the former Fidesz deputy mayor of District III, Óbuda.
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How did the scandal begin?
Authorities arrested Zsolt Z., the businessman believed to be behind the network of companies, last autumn shortly after the municipal elections. He reportedly admitted that his firms had received unrealistically high payments for horticultural work carried out as principal contractors for various municipalities, and also made reference to fictitious invoicing.
The outlet Szabad Európa previously exposed the park maintenance scandal in a series of articles, concluding that at least half of Budapest’s districts may have been involved — irrespective of political affiliation. According to 24.hu, Zsolt Z.’s company remains under contract with many of these districts.
The timing is, at the very least, curious. Z. Zsolt was arrested two autumns ago, yet the authorities did not move against politicians from either Fidesz or the old Left until after the parliamentary elections. Precisely the same pattern was seen in the case of former Fidesz MP Zoltán Bóna, which we have previously reported on.
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