Simon returns parliamentary mandate

Budapest, February 13 (MTI) – Former Socialist official Gabor Simon has returned his lawmaker’s mandate in a letter addressed to the house speaker on Thursday, the press office told MTI.

Spokesman Zoltan Szilagyi said the letter was not hand-delivered. The Chief Prosecutor’s Office told MTI that Simon’s resignation has “removed a legal obstacle from the launch of criminal proceedings” against him.

Simon quit his post as the party’s deputy leader last week, saying he would give up his seat in parliament after reports that he had undeclared assets worth 240 million forints (EUR 780,000) held on an Austrian bank account. Antal Rogan, the parliamentary group leader for the ruling Fidesz party, has accused Simon of holding the sum for the Socialist Party.

The parties of the left-of-centre Union alliance have replaced Simon on their national election list.

According to parliament’s website, Simon’s mandate expired on February 12.