Former Hungarian justice minister Judit Varga appeared in court on July 3 as a witness in a high-profile corruption case, which centres around Gyorgy Schadl, former head of the bailiff chamber (MBVK), and ex-state secretary of the Justice Minister Pal Volner.

Schadl and Volner are accused of operating a broad kickback scheme, in which Schadl allegedly paid monthly bribes to Volner in exchange for using his political influence to secure appointments and protect lucrative positions for court bailiffs across the country. The case has become symbolic of wider concerns about institutional corruption in Hungary, with allegations pointing to a network of political and judicial actors working to shield high-level officials from accountability.

Judit Varga, who served as justice minister from 2019, was Volner's direct superior at the time the crimes took place, which began under her predecessor, former justice minister László Trócsányi.

Schadl was arrested trying to flee Hungary in November 2021 and Volner resigned a few weeks later after he was indicted. This marked the largest corruption scandal in Hungary, but had little impact on the election a few months later as Fidesz scored its biggest victory since sweeping to power in 2010.

Varga denied under oath any political interference in the appointments of bailiffs, saying she did not closely monitor the process during her tenure as she delegated the job to her subordinates, including the state secretary.

She claimed that she did not have a personal relationship with the head of MBVK. "Our relationship was professional, not friendly," she said, adding that she had only met Schadl a few times in her office. Describing their first encounter, Varga said he presented himself as a dynamic and articulate man. "I always noticed how fit he was," she remarked.

The documents and wiretapped conversations in the indictment unveil a country run in a mafia-style, where state bodies collaborate with criminals and the justice system covers up any involvement of high-ranking officials, bneIntellinews reported earlier.

The secret audio tape of former Fidesz insider Peter Magyar of his former wife from 2023 also backed up these allegations. Varga is heard on the audio recording saying that Orban's powerful minister Antal Rogan (head of the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office and leader of Hungary's security services) and his people tampered with evidence and suggested to the prosecutors what should be removed from the evidence in a corruption case involving Varga's subordinate.

Magyar submitted this tape to the Budapest Investigative Prosecutor's Office in March 2024 and testified, but no legal action followed.

The recording also includes Varga saying that Volner had been warned by senior government officials that he was under surveillance. "They told him to stop (…) but he didn't," Varga says on the tape as Volner continued accepting bribes from Schadl despite the warning.

Varga has formally exited public life after resigning in February 2024 in the wake of the clemency scandal, along with President Katalin Novak and launched a carpentry business. Her testimony however, reignited political and media interest as it marked the first time in 17 months that journalists had the opportunity to directly question the ex-wife of Peter Magyar, the man who has upended Hungary's political landscape. Since his dramatic entry into public life, Magyar has redefined the opposition and triggered a political movement seen as a valid challenger to end Fidesz rule.

When asked whether she planned to return to public life, Varga responded: "If this is a competition where even someone like this so-called Peter Magyar is awarded points, then it's a race I have no interest in joining."

Instead of addressing the questions about the content of the secret audio tape, she launched a personal attack against her former husband. Echoing the government's propaganda narrative, she accused Magyar of betrayal and of using the recordings to blackmail her, unsubstantiated claims refuted by the opposition leader on the same day. This line of attack was mirrored in the coordinated responses from ruling party politicians and pro-government figures on social media.

Prime Minister Orban also weighed in, posting on Facebook: "The truth will prevail. We stand with you, Judit." Other politicians and Fidesz talking heads followed suit with similar comments.

Magyar in his response, accused Orban and Rogan of attempting to divert public attention from the core issues of corruption case by reigniting tabloid-style personal issues instead of focusing on the real questions, why perpetrators had not been held accountable. He also shared an excerpt from a 2019 interview Varga gave during their marriage, aiming to contrast her earlier words with her recent public statements.