As we wrote today, Pál Völner, the state secretary of the ministry of justice, has resigned after the chief prosecutor’s office asked parliament to lift his immunity so he can defend himself against charges of receiving bribes on a regular basis.
In response, at a joint press conference opposition politicians called on Justice Minister Judit Varga to resign.
Parbeszed deputy group leader Olivio Kocsis-Cake called the affair “the most serious corruption scandal of the government”, saying that it involved a state secretary who “had ordered the surveillance of persons”.
“Varga’s role should also be assessed because it was her who authorised the state secretary’s actions,” he said.
Socialist deputy group leader Tamás Harangozó said
the case demonstrated “how thoroughly corrupt [ruling] Fidesz’s regime” was.
Jobbik lawmaker Tibor Nunkovics called on Völner to resign from his mandate in parliament and DK lawmaker László Szakács described Volner “as a key player in the Pegasus affair”.
Momentum spokesman Márton Tompos and LMP group leader Lóránt László Keresztes said
Varga had to resign because she should take responsibility for what had happened in the ministry.
UPDATE
Ruling Fidesz responded as saying that the opposition left “showed no sign of being ready to clarify the corruption surrounding the sale of Budapest City Hall and other cases of corruption”. It said in a statement that Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of Budapest, “had been hiding away” for weeks from clearing the affair while “it has become clear that there is a mafia operating in the City Hall”.
The ruling parties will support lifting Völner’s parliamentary immunity because the state secretary “has to clear himself”, Fidesz said.
Karácsony said a screening committee had to be set up in order to assess the systemic problems in connection with the “often cruel and inhumane” execution of claims included in court decisions. Karácsony, who is also co-leader of Párbeszéd, said on Facebook that
the committee must also reveal if there were any political ties involved in the case and assess the reasons behind “the outstandingly large number of forced evictions under the Orbán government”.
What a load of garbage! Judit Varga is doing a great job protecting Hungarian children and it drives the anti-Hungarian, Soros dogs crazy.
Völner resigned. The rest is up to the criminal justice system.
If the Gyurcsány-Dobrev-Apró gang ruled opposition wants to clean-up corruption, they should start with Gyurcsány and Dobrev.
Opposition led by a door-to-door salesman is as ridiculous as this statement.
If she goes, schadenfreude. A few will shed crocodile tears and a nuisance commentators here won’t need so many paper hankies. Other than that, good riddance.
Justice Minister Judit Varga is doing a great job and opposition attempts to smear her will not work with the Hungarian people.
Völner will his day in court where he may be found guilty or innocent. In the meantime, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
In any case, it does not reflect on Judit Varga and her service protecting Hungarian children. It is not up to Soros dogs.
Magyrország a magyaroké!
Won’t be a big loss if she resigns. But of course she won’t, Fidesz gang members are glued to their power seats.
István: how many times do you have to be told to stop insulting other commentators and calling them names simply because you have a different opinion? This is a grown up forum, not a kindergarten.
Good Memory,
I asked you a simple question you couldn’t answer. It tells me all I need to know about you.
I didn’t personally insult any commentator but you are addressing and insulting me.
It is typical of communists to accuse others of doing what they are doing.
Why are you personally insulted when I say that protection of Hungarian children is not up to Soros dogs?
Why are you personally insulted when I say that Magyarország a magyaroké?
Why you are personally insulted when I say that “If the Gyurcsány-Dobrev-Apró gang ruled opposition wants to clean-up corruption, they should start with Gyurcsány and Dobrev.”?
Which one of these is a personal insult to you?
Speak up boy!
I have a long list of the insults you made about others. Your current favourite one is calling people ‘Soros dogs’. Old man.
You take “Soros dogs” personally insulting?
If the shoe fits, wear it.