Hungary’s National Bureau of Investigation has confirmed receiving a criminal complaint against former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over remarks about distributing ‘appropriate tools’ for resistance. Authorities are now examining the complaint, but it’s unclear whether a criminal investigation will follow.
Hungary’s National Bureau of Investigation (NNI) has confirmed that a criminal complaint has been filed against former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over controversial remarks he made at a gathering of the Digital Civic Circles (Digitális Polgári Körök, DPK) in Lakitelek earlier this month.
According to Hungarian broadcaster ATV, the authorities are currently examining the contents of the complaint as part of a preliminary procedure to supplement it. It is not yet known whether a formal criminal investigation will be launched or what suspected offence, if any, it would concern.
Orbán’s comments triggered a strong reaction from Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who accused his predecessor of referring to an armed uprising and the violent overthrow of Hungary’s constitutional order.
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What did Orbán say at the Lakitelek event?
At the DPK gathering in Lakitelek on 18 October, Orbán was asked about the ‘national resistance’ he had previously called for against the Tisza-led government.
The former prime minister responded that the country was not yet in a suitable state for such resistance, but his own camp was ready.
“Our country is not yet in a state suitable for this. We already are. We could hand out the appropriate tools here, whoever gets what, blunter or sharper – that is not the question,” Orbán said.
The remarks drew attention because of the reference to distributing tools of varying sharpness. Magyar subsequently argued that the comments amounted to a reference to armed rebellion and the violent alteration of the constitutional order.
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Magyar accuses Orbán of referring to armed rebellion
Magyar reacted to the remarks on social media on the same day, citing provisions of Hungary’s Criminal Code concerning crimes against the constitutional order.
He pointed to legislation under which acts directly aimed at violently changing Hungary’s constitutional order, or threatening to do so, can carry prison sentences of five to 20 years or even life imprisonment. Preparatory acts intended to facilitate such a crime can also be punishable by one to five years in prison.
Orbán had previously called for ‘national resistance’ and a fight against the Tisza government at political events in Tusnádfürdő over the summer and at the Kötcse gathering in September. He claimed that Hungary was facing a new form of colonialisation under the new administration.
Police confirm complaint after fresh media inquiry
ATV first contacted the National Police Headquarters (ORFK) on 21 October to ask whether a complaint had been filed over Orbán’s comments. At that point, the authorities said no proceedings had been initiated in the matter by the time they responded.
The broadcaster sent a further inquiry earlier this week to establish whether the situation had changed.
In its latest response, the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the complaint had arrived at the office and that its contents were being examined as part of a procedure to supplement the complaint.
