Hungary's prosecutor general, Gabor Balint Nagy, announced his resignation on Wednesday, citing the need to safeguard the interests of the prosecutorial service. The move comes amid mounting pressure from Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who has accused Nagy of being a 'puppet' of former nationalist leader Viktor Orban. Nagy, who was appointed under Orban, emphasized that the independence of the prosecutor's office must not be compromised by political struggles.
Political Pressure and Resignation
Nagy's resignation follows a series of political moves by Prime Minister Magyar, who took office after ousting Orban in April elections. Magyar has been pushing to remove top officials associated with Orban's administration, including the unpopular ex-president Tamas Sulyok, who was removed by a constitutional amendment.
Context and Reactions
Orban's Fidesz party has condemned Magyar's actions as 'autocratic,' a charge often leveled against Orban himself during his tenure. The resignation of Nagy comes a day after a data center hosting Fidesz servers was raided over corruption allegations. Nagy, who was appointed for a nine-year term last year, previously served as the chief of staff of his predecessor, Orban ally Peter Polt.
Future Implications
Prime Minister Magyar welcomed Nagy's resignation, stating that the country has rid itself of another of Orban's 'puppets' obstructing the transition to democracy. Polt, who left the prosecution service to head the constitutional court, will see his term end prematurely due to the same constitutional amendment that removed Sulyok.
