Hungarian prosecutors conducted a raid on the data servers of the nationalist Fidesz party, formerly led by Viktor Orban, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption. The action took place on July 21, with authorities targeting the servers housed at a data centre in Budapest, reportedly owned by German-majority Hungarian Telekom.

The investigation is connected to suspected misappropriation and other criminal offenses involving the National Cultural Fund, according to statements from the prosecutor’s office in Bacs-Kiskun County, southern Hungary. Mariaanna Bodo, the prosecutors' spokeswoman, confirmed the inquiry but declined to provide further details to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing case.

Fidesz described the unannounced raid as an attempt to confiscate the party’s entire communications infrastructure and databases. The party also accused the current government of trying to suppress its operations. Fidesz’s leaders have framed the move as politically motivated and part of a broader effort by the ruling administration to weaken the party following its loss in the April elections.

The new government, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who replaced Orban after 16 years in power, has pledged to address entrenched corruption and restore democratic standards. Since taking office, Magyar’s pro-European conservative administration has sought to loosen what it describes as Orban’s “illiberal” grip on Hungary and recover public assets that watchdogs suspect were unlawfully acquired during his tenure.

Hungary under Orban had frequently clashed with the European Union over concerns related to the rule of law, governance, and minority rights. Since losing power, Fidesz has accused Magyar’s Tisza party of exhibiting authoritarian tendencies, a claim the current government denies, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and legal accountability.

The raids mark a significant development in Hungary’s political landscape, highlighting the ongoing contention between the former ruling party and the new administration as they navigate issues of corruption, governance, and political influence in the country.