Veronika Varga-Bajusz detention extended in Hungarian NKA case

The Kecskemét District Court has extended the detention of former State Secretary Veronika Varga-Bajusz and former Minister of Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó until February 1, 2027. The legal proceedings involve allegations of breach of trust regarding the National Cultural Fund (NKA).

Prosecutors suspect that between September 2025 and March 2026, approximately 17.3 billion forints were misappropriated through 1,079 instances of funding that deviated from legal purposes. Authorities allege that funding decisions were not made by the designated collegiate body, but rather by Balázs Hankó and potentially other individuals.

Veronika Varga-Bajusz, who was responsible for higher education and youth, has appealed the extension. Her lawyer, Dávid Balázs, argues there is no new evidence to justify continued detention and claims the court relied on repetitive arguments regarding the risk of flight or evidence tampering. Additionally, the defense noted that Varga-Bajusz was recently transferred from a detention center in Kecskemét to a facility in Kiskunhalas, which the lawyer suggests may involve worse conditions.