Hungarian authorities recovered nearly 20 million euros in hidden cash during a bribery investigation into former development minister Miklós Seszták, marking a dramatic escalation in Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.
Investigators from the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office discovered the funds during searches on Thursday and Friday, according to POLITICO.eu. The money—consisting of over 5 billion forints, €2.6 million, and $1.2 million—was unearthed in forests, farm buildings, warehouses, residential properties, and a high-value safe across Budapest, Pest, Békés, and Nógrád counties, as reported by The Guardian.
Finance Minister András Kármán stated on Facebook that 12 Treasury employees spent eight hours tallying the physical currency using five counting machines, as detailed by NBC News. The asset recovery agency deposited the entire sum into the Hungarian State Treasury account.
🤯 Hungarian investigators have uncovered nearly $20 million in cash, including money buried in forests and hidden inside buildings. The stash is linked to a corruption probe involving former Orbán minister Miklós Seszták, The Guardian reports.https://t.co/XWtQckf2tU
The Fallout From Fidesz
Prime Minister Péter Magyar hailed the seizure as a definitive blow to the previous administration. Magyar ousted former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in an April election, ending 16 years of Fidesz rule with a promise to eradicate state corruption and mend strained ties with the European Union.
“This officially marks the end for the Fidesz-KDNP mafia!”
said Péter Magyar, Prime Minister, in a statement posted to Facebook.
💵Remember those huge, empty safes investigators discovered at the home of Miklós Seszták, a former minister in Viktor Orbán’s government? Authorities have just announced they uncovered 6.5 billion HUF in cash hidden underground, in warehouses and safes all across Hungary. pic.twitter.com/l0M3MudMpY
Seszták, who served as minister of national development between 2014 and 2018, is accused of accepting bribes in a scheme involving state transport company contracts and overpriced secondhand bus purchases. Seszták remains under pre-trial detention and has denied all wrongdoing.
Fidesz distanced itself from the physical cash discoveries while defending its broader political community. In a public statement, the party wrote that it hoped the seized funds had nothing to do with Seszták.
“Since the change of regime, every lawmaker in Hungary has sworn an oath to abide by and enforce the law. Fidesz-KDNP (Christian Democrats) cannot associate itself with anyone who fails to do so. We trust that the images published by the NVVH (asset recovery office) have nothing to do with Miklós Seszták.”
Fidesz wrote in a Facebook post.
Arrests and Political Repercussions
“Dear Victor, I’ve always been an admirer of your creativity, but now I must say I’m impressed as never before.”
“This is an individual criminal case, and the criminal proceedings must be kept strictly separate from our political community.”
“Péter Magyar wants to use it to portray the entire right as a criminal organisation. We reject this in the strongest possible terms!”
said Bence Rétvári, parliamentary group leader of the Christian Democrats.
A few days ago, Orbán’s brother was detained in a people-smuggling case, while yesterday 20 million dollars were found buried in the forest by one of Orbán’s ministers. Dear Victor, I’ve always been an admirer of your creativity, but now I must say I’m impressed as never before
Court Extends Pre-Trial Detention
| Case Detail | Status / Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Seized Cash Value | Nearly €20 million ($19.5m / 5bn+ forints) |
| Search Dates | November 12 and 13 |
| Treasury Processing Time | 12 employees, 8 hours, 5 machines |
| Scheduled Court Deadline | Pre-trial detention extended until January 30, 2027 |
Legal proceedings continue as a Budapest court extended Seszták’s pre-trial detention until January 30, 2027, according to NewsCord. Legal analysts note that the discovery of the cash does not, in itself, definitively establish its criminal origin or prove Seszták’s individual guilt.
Seszták’s lawyer, Gabor Papp, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the recovery office’s statement, though he previously told local media that the seized money did not belong to his client.
This officially marks the end of the Fidesz-KDNP mafia! More than 6 billion forints’ worth of cash, buried or otherwise concealed, was found and seized yesterday and today by the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH) as part of the criminal investigation into… pic.twitter.com/33ftoxT5F8
