In Budapest, thousands of protesters gathered near parliament, calling for the resignation of Hungary’s chief prosecutor and Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The protests stemmed from allegations made by Peter Magyar, a former government insider, who accused a senior aide to Orban of attempting to interfere in a corruption case.

Magyar had released a recording of a conversation with Judit Varga, then his wife and Hungary’s justice minister, where she detailed an alleged attempt by aides to Orban’s cabinet chief to tamper with documents related to a corruption case involving former justice ministry state secretary Pal Volner and Gyorgy Schadl, the former head of the Court Bailiffs.

Both individuals have denied the charges, with prosecutors seeking jail terms for them, Reuters reported.

The prosecutors stated they would analyze the tape, recorded in January 2023 according to Magyar, and gather further evidence, asserting it was impossible to manipulate prosecution documents.

The timing of these allegations is politically sensitive for Orban, especially with European parliamentary elections approaching in June. This incident follows a recent sex abuse scandal that implicated two of Orban’s political allies.

Magyar, once close to the government, intends to launch a new political party to challenge Orban. In a speech to protesters, he thanked them for their support and highlighted the need to voice discontent with those in power.

In the recorded conversation, Varga discussed aides’ suggestions to prosecutors regarding document deletions in the Volner/Schadl case. Varga, who did not dispute the authenticity of the tape, accused Magyar of using it for political gain.

The government spokesperson declined to comment on the recording’s content, dismissing it as insignificant.

Written by B.C. Begley