Hungarian authorities have recovered approximately 17.7 million euros in cash, discovered in a series of clandestine caches across the country during an ongoing corruption investigation targeting a former minister in Viktor Orbán’s previous administration.
The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH), a body recently established by the current administration, spearheaded the operation.
According to reports from the news portal 444.hu, the cash—a mixture of euros, U.S. dollars, and Hungarian forints—was unearthed in locations ranging from rural forests and agricultural warehouses to private residences and a secured safe. The funds are allegedly tied to Miklos Sesztak, who served as Minister of National Development between 2014 and 2018.
András Karman, the Minister of Finance, said that a dozen officials from the State Treasury worked for eight hours using mechanical note counters to process the physical currency. The recovered funds were formally deposited into the State Treasury on Friday, marking a tangible, albeit unconventional, addition to the national coffers.
Sesztak has been held in pre-trial detention since late September. He faces accusations of accepting bribes totaling 12.6 billion forints, or approximately 33 million euros, in connection with a scheme involving the state-owned transport company Volánbusz. His detention is part of a broader crackdown; he is one of three former ministers from the Orbán era currently imprisoned on corruption-related charges.
Magyar Targets Fidesz-KDNP Influence
The discovery of the hidden millions has become a focal point for the current administration of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party defeated Orbán in the April elections.
Magyar, who now governs with a two-thirds parliamentary majority, characterized the seizure as a definitive end to the influence of the previous ruling coalition. In a statement posted to Facebook, Magyar declared that the find “puts an officially end to the Fidesz-KDNP mafia,” referring to the parties that held power in Hungary from 2010 until 2026.
The Fidesz party initially suggested through social media that it hoped Sesztak had no connection to the recovered cash. However, as evidence mounted, the party distanced itself from its former minister. Gergely Gulyas, the leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group, issued a video statement urging Sesztak to resign his seat in parliament.
“If it is confirmed that what we have seen and heard in the last 24 hours is true, it is completely unacceptable. Our political community is not like that. That is not who we are; Fidesz is not like that, and it will not be as long as I am the leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group.”
said Gulyas. Gyorgy Matolcsy, the former Minister of Economy and ex-governor of the Central Bank, who was long considered Orbán’s right-hand man, has also been arrested. Authorities have also detained Aron Orbán, the younger brother of the former prime minister, in connection with an alleged human trafficking ring.
Restoring the Rule of Law and European Relations
The anti-corruption drive is central to Prime Minister Magyar’s mandate. His government has pledged to address the democratic backsliding that defined Hungary’s international relations during Orbán’s four consecutive terms.
Under Orbán, Hungary frequently clashed with the European Commission and its partners in the European Union over judicial independence and the rule of law. Magyar has now committed to a comprehensive audit of government spending and a full investigation into allegations of systemic abuse of power.
| Individual | Former Role | Nature of Allegation |
|---|---|---|
| Miklos Sesztak | Minister of National Development | Corruption and bribery (Volánbusz case) |
| Gyorgy Matolcsy | Minister of Economy / Central Bank Governor | Corruption |
| Aron Orbán | Brother of former PM | Human trafficking |
The recovery of the 17.7 million euros serves as a stark metric of the resources allegedly diverted during the previous administration’s tenure. With the NVVH continuing its work, further investigations are expected as the state examines corruption and abuse of power during the era of the Fidesz-KDNP majority.
The legal proceedings against Sesztak and his former colleagues are expected to continue throughout the coming months, with the next court appearances scheduled to determine the formal timeline for trial.
