Former Hungarian National Development Minister Miklós Seszták has been detained after Parliament suspended his immunity on Monday, as prosecutors accuse the Fidesz-KDNP politician of accepting HUF billions in bribes during his time in government.

According to details presented to Parliament’s Immunity Committee, the alleged corruption scheme involved HUF 12.6 billion (EUR 34.24 million) in illicit payments connected to state-owned transport contracts, bus purchases and construction projects. The Fidesz MP denies committing any crime and has questioned the basis of the investigation.

Allegations linked to Volánbusz contracts

Seszták served as Fidesz’s national development minister between June 2014 and May 2018. His responsibilities included oversight of state assets, public procurement and the Hungarian National Asset Management Company (Magyar Nemzeti Vagyonkezelő, MNV), as well as transport development.

The most substantial allegation concerns companies holding contracts with state-owned bus operator Volánbusz. According to the prosecution’s case as presented to Parliament, Seszták and the then head of MNV, Norbert Szivek, allegedly received HUF 7.076 billion (almost EUR 19.25 million) in corruption payments between May 2015 and July 2018.

The allegation is that three companies initially paid HUF 115 million (almost EUR 313,000) a month to an intermediary interest group to retain their Volánbusz contracts. The amount was subsequently increased to HUF 130 million (around EUR 353,500), with the payments allegedly redirected to Seszták and Szivek through couriers, writes 444.hu.

A second part of the case concerns bus procurement. Prosecutors allege that 645 new and used buses were purchased through 14 transactions between 2015 and 2017, with suppliers allegedly paying a further HUF 3.7066 billion (appr. EUR 10.1 million) in illicit benefits.

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Further payments alleged

The case also includes alleged payments connected to construction projects. According to the parliamentary briefing, one person allegedly delivered more than HUF 1.05 billion (EUR 2.85 million) to Seszták through intermediaries in connection with projects linked to a company named in the investigation. A further HUF 270 million (EUR 734,000) is alleged to have been paid in connection with projects, particularly swimming-pool construction.

Prosecutors allege that the former Fidesz minister used his official position to ensure that companies linked to the people involved repeatedly received contracts and that final contract prices were determined in their favour. The allegations are contained in an 11-page prosecution submission comprising 51 paragraphs.

Seszták rejects the allegations

Seszták has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Before entering the Central Investigative Prosecutor’s Office on Monday on his own, the former Fidesz minister said he wanted to give evidence and maintained that he had committed no crime. He was subsequently detained, according to his lawyer.

In an interview with 24.hu conducted before his detention, Seszták said he could not explain the allegations and claimed he suspected that prosecutors had reached a plea agreement with somebody else involved, but he did not name anyone, although he said it is not hard to figure out who the person who knew about everything is.

He did not know there was an ongoing investigation until last week, mainly because he did not speak to the Fidesz leaders, former PM Viktor Orbán and deputy PM Zsolt Semjén due to the case being a criminal proceeding. Seszták also said he would not voluntarily surrender his parliamentary mandate, arguing that there was no reason to do so, while insisting that he was entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Furthermore, Fidesz’s ex-minister highlighted he finds the general sentiment in the country so volatile he can imagine almost anything to happen during the process of holding members of the former government politicians accountable. Seszták also claimed he’s certain that the prerequisites of his arrest do not apply.

Stay up-to-date: Former Fidesz minister detained over alleged corruption – here’s what happens if he’s convicted

Immunity suspended unanimously

Parliament suspended Seszták’s immunity on Monday in a 139–0 vote, clearing the way for prosecutors to proceed against him. Shortly afterwards, he voluntarily went to the prosecutor’s office, where he was detained. The case now moves from the parliamentary stage into the criminal investigation, with the allegations and Seszták’s defence set to be examined by the Hungarian authorities and, ultimately, the courts.

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