Two former ministers in Viktor Orban's government have been detained on suspicion of bribery and misappropriation of public funds

Two former ministers in the government led by Viktor Orbán were detained in Hungary on Monday evening, a few hours after Parliament lifted their immunity. Balázs Hankó, former Minister of Culture and current Fidesz lawmaker, is suspected of diverting public funds worth millions of euros. Miklós Seszták, former Minister for National Development and KDNP lawmaker, is being investigated separately for allegedly accepting bribes worth millions of euros.

Prosecutors confirmed the detentions on Tuesday. The two politicians denied the allegations and maintained that they had committed no illegal acts. The investigations are the first corruption cases targeting former senior members of Orbán’s governments.

The lifting of immunity was voted on Monday by the Hungarian Parliament, including in the case of Prime Minister Péter Magyar. He had requested the measure so that he could defend himself in a case in which he is accused of snatching a man’s phone while the man was filming him in a nightclub and throwing it into the Danube. Magyar rejects the theft allegation and claims that the case represents an attempted political assassination.

The new government has promised to investigate corruption and alleged abuses during the 16 years of Orbán’s administration. Hungarian authorities estimate that the misuse of public funds may have cost the country between 8% and 10% of GDP.