Hungary’s Prime Minister Gives Up Immunity, Could Face Trial Over Alleged Phone Theft

Hungary’s parliament granted Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s request today (Monday), lifting his immunity. The country’s prosecution is considering putting him on trial over a 2024 incident in which he is suspected of stealing a cellphone.

The incident took place two years ago at a nightclub in Budapest. According to Hungarian prosecutors, Magyar confronted a person who was filming him on a cellphone, grabbed the device from the person’s hands and later deliberately threw it into the Danube River. Prosecutors believe his actions may amount to theft.

Before the parliamentary vote, Magyar said he had no intention of evading the legal process. "I take responsibility for all my actions and have nothing to hide. One of the 12 principles of the Hungarian Revolution in 1848 was the demand for equality before the law. Every person must answer before the law."

It should be noted that in September 2024, prosecutors requested that Magyar’s immunity be lifted while he was serving as a member of the European Parliament, but the body rejected the request.

Magyar rejected the allegation that he committed a criminal offense and accused former associates of Viktor Orbán’s government of trying to blur the distinction between corruption cases involving billions and what he called an attempt at his political elimination.