Péter Magyar Immunity Lifted as Hungarian Parliament Votes Unanimously in Nightclub Phone Case

Péter Magyar immunity from prosecution has been removed after Hungary’s parliament voted to strip the prime minister of his legal protection. In an unusual twist, the move came at Magyar’s own request, as the leader who built his political brand on fighting corruption said he wanted to show that no one stands above the law.

The vote paves the way for prosecutors to pursue a case dating back to a 2024 incident at a Budapest nightclub.

A Unanimous Vote

The Hungarian parliament, where Magyar’s centre-right Tisza party holds a dominant position, approved the motion by 139 votes to none. Not a single lawmaker voted against lifting the prime minister’s immunity.

Magyar had personally urged members of his own party to support the proposal, making clear that he did not want his position to shield him from scrutiny.

The vote followed a formal request from Hungary’s Prosecutor’s Office, which recently reopened an investigation into the 2024 incident.

What Happened at the Nightclub

The case centres on events in June 2024, about two weeks after that year’s European Parliament elections. At the time, Magyar was serving as a member of the European Parliament.

While at a nightclub in Budapest, he became involved in a confrontation with a man who was filming him. During the altercation, Magyar grabbed the man’s phone and threw it into the River Danube. The device was later recovered from the water.

Why Prosecutors Got Involved

After reviewing the incident, prosecutors concluded that Magyar’s actions met the legal definition of theft. They asked the European Parliament to lift his immunity so the case could proceed.

However, the European Parliament turned down that request, and the matter was effectively put on hold.

The Case Returns

Everything changed when Magyar left the European Parliament and became head of Hungary’s government. With his European immunity no longer in place, prosecutors reopened the investigation. Since he now enjoys immunity as a member of the Hungarian parliament, they needed lawmakers in Budapest to remove that protection before moving forward.

Magyar Stands by His Actions

Rather than distancing himself from the incident, Magyar has defended what he did that night.

Speaking on Saturday, he said he had a clear memory of the evening. He explained that he had acted to protect his friends and young people from being harassed by someone he described as a paid provocateur. He said he would do exactly the same thing again and was prepared to accept the consequences if necessary.

A Message of Equality

After the vote, Magyar took to Facebook to explain his stance. He wrote that the law applies equally to everyone, whether they work in a factory, sit in parliament or lead the country.

He added that people with nothing to hide should have no fear of facing the courts.

The message fits neatly with the image Magyar has cultivated since entering national politics. Tackling corruption and restoring trust in public institutions has been one of the central promises of his government.

Former Orbán Ministers Also Lose Immunity

Magyar was not the only politician affected by the parliamentary vote. Lawmakers also agreed to lift the immunity of two former ministers who served under Viktor Orbán:

• Balázs Hankó, the former minister for culture and innovation
• Miklós Sesztak, the former development minister

In both cases, the Prosecutor’s Office requested the move in connection with corruption charges.

Orbán’s government was defeated by the Tisza party in the general election held in April, ending a long period in power and bringing Magyar to the top of Hungarian politics.

A Symbolic Moment for the New Government

The timing of the votes is striking. By allowing prosecutors to pursue a case against himself on the same day as two former Orbán-era ministers, Magyar appears to be sending a clear message: accountability will apply to everyone, including the prime minister.

Supporters are likely to see this as proof that the new government is serious about rule of law and transparency. Critics, however, may argue that the prime minister’s case, which involves a phone thrown into a river, is minor compared with the corruption allegations facing the former ministers, and that the gesture is more about image than substance.

Either way, the decision marks a notable shift in tone for Hungarian politics.

What Happens Next

The parliamentary vote alone does not immediately strip the politicians of their protection. Before the decisions can take effect, several formal steps must be completed:

• Parliamentary speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer must sign them
• President András Baka must also sign them
• They must then be published in Hungary’s official gazette

Once those steps are finalised, prosecutors will be free to proceed with their cases.

Possible Outcomes

For Magyar, the legal process could lead to charges linked to the phone incident. For Hankó and Sesztak, the stakes are potentially much higher, given the corruption allegations against them.

How these cases unfold will be closely watched both in Hungary and across Europe, where the country’s record on rule of law and judicial independence has long been a subject of debate.

A Test of Hungary’s New Direction

Magyar came to power promising to clean up Hungarian politics and restore confidence in public institutions. Allowing himself to face prosecution is a bold demonstration of that promise, but it also carries political risk.

If the legal process moves forward fairly and transparently, it could strengthen public trust in his government. If it becomes a drawn-out distraction, it could give opponents fresh ammunition.

For now, the unanimous vote sends a powerful signal. In Magyar’s Hungary, the prime minister says he is ready to be treated like any other citizen, and the coming months will show whether that principle holds firm.