János Bóka, leader of Fidesz’s parliamentary group, said on Sunday that recent developments in Hungary amount to political retaliation, predicting that a manhunt targeting members and leaders of his political community could begin as early as next week.
In a video published on Facebook on Sunday, Bóka argued that institutions and figures he described as the intellectual workshops of the Fidesz community had been targeted first, and that party members and senior figures could be next.
His remarks referred to a series of recent developments involving organisations and figures associated with Hungary’s political right, including the now-defunct conservative media outlet Mandiner, the House of Terror Museum and its dismissed former director Mária Schmidt, as well as the Centre for Fundamental Rights, where police carried out searches.
According to Bóka, these cases form part of a broader political process rather than isolated incidents.
“What is happening in Hungary now is political retaliation,” Bóka said in the video.
He went on to predict that a “manhunt” would begin as early as next week, with the aim, in his view, of intimidating and weakening Fidesz and silencing people who support what he described as a sovereign Hungary.
Bóka added that his political community could not be “broken, silenced or intimidated”, and urged supporters not to be afraid.
Parliament to consider immunity cases
His comments come ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary session expected on Monday, when lawmakers may vote on requests to suspend the immunity of former ministers Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták, as well as Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
Prosecutors are seeking to question Hankó in connection with an investigation into the National Cultural Fund. According to the prosecution, funds were allegedly distributed through a system that caused HUF 17.3 billion in financial damage to the central budget.
Investigators say more than 1,000 grants were used for purposes outside those permitted by law. Hankó has rejected the allegations and said the decisions and use of the funds were lawful.
Seszták, a former national development minister, faces a separate corruption investigation linked to Volánbusz. Prosecutors allege that more than HUF 12 billion in bribes were involved, including more than HUF 11 billion in unlawful benefits allegedly received through an intermediary between 2015 and 2018. Seszták has denied committing any crime and said he is prepared to defend himself before the authorities.
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Fidesz and Tisza offer sharply different accounts
Bóka’s latest remarks echo earlier statements in which he described the proceedings against Hankó as politically motivated. Last week, he called the case a “show trial” and an example of political arbitrariness.
The phrase “manhunt” also follows similar rhetoric used by former prime minister Viktor Orbán, who recently suggested that several senior Fidesz politicians could become targets following the change of government.
The governing Tisza Party, however, presents the situation very differently. As we reported yesterday, speaking in Szolnok, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said political responsibility should fall on a relatively small number of people rather than on ordinary Fidesz voters. He stressed that “we are all Hungarians” despite political differences and argued that voters should not be treated as enemies.
Magyar’s rally was itself marked by tension. Objects, including an egg, were thrown towards the stage, prompting him to ask protesters not to target members of the crowd. Addressing the incident, he said some frustrated Fidesz voters were now confronting the fact that the leaders they had trusted had misled them.
Monday’s parliamentary session could therefore become another focal point in the confrontation between the governing Tisza Party and Fidesz, particularly as lawmakers are expected to consider requests to suspend the immunity of former ministers and Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s.
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