Hidden fortune found. A suspicious Hungarian politician

The case is reported by Reuters.

As the National Office for Asset Recovery and Protection reported on Friday, the searches also found cash stored in an expensive safe in an isolated place.

"During the searches, investigators found large amounts of cash buried in forests, hidden in farm buildings, warehouses and residential properties, as well as stored in a high-value safe," the office said.

Counting the banknotes took eight hours

5.07 billion forints, 2.66 million euros and 1.26 million dollars were secured. Finance Minister András Kármán announced that 12 state treasury employees, five banknote counters and eight hours of work were needed to count the money.

Miklós Seszták, who headed the Ministry of Development in 2014–2018, does not admit to any irregularities. His attorney, Gábor Papp, did not respond to a request for comment.

In September, Sesztak, a deputy of the current term, was imprisoned pending the proceedings after having his immunity lifted. He is suspected of accepting bribes and other crimes related to the purchase of buses and public transport services provided by Volanbusz - a Hungarian carrier operating long-distance connections.

According to the findings of the investigation, Sesztak and the general director of the institution managing state property are suspected of accepting bribes worth over 11 billion forints (over EUR 30 million) from contractors cooperating with Volanbusz in 2015–2018.

"Operation Purgatory" after the change of government

The case is part of the extensive anti-corruption campaign of the new Prime Minister Péter Magyar. The politician, who removed Viktor Orbán from power in the April elections after 16 years of rule, announced the improvement of relations with the European Union and the settlement of suspicions of corruption from previous years.

The actions that Magyar calls "Operation Purgatory" enjoy great public support. A survey by the Median studio, published by the HVG website, shows that 70 percent consider them to be very important. respondents.

Two former ministers from Orbán's government and the former president of the central bank, György Matolcsy, have already been detained in separate proceedings. They all deny the allegations. The former prime minister's brother was also detained in a human smuggling case. Orbán previously considered the case a political revenge.

Péter Magyar assessed that the found cash meant the end of the system, which he called the "mafia" created by Fidesz and its Christian Democrat allies. Political scientist Gábor Török, in turn, concluded that images of stacks of banknotes could seriously harm Fidesz. According to Median's survey, support for this party dropped to 16%. in November - approximately halved compared to the period before the elections.