Two relatives of the Hungarian agricultural minister have resigned from government-appointed positions, after media and parliamentary accusations of nepotism.

The minister, Jozsef Torgyan, who is also leader of the Independent Smallholders Party, defended the appointments, but his coalition partners, the Young Democrats-Civic Party of the Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, had expressed disquiet.

Mr Torgyan's daughter-in-law Beatrix Hingyi had been appointed earlier this month to the board of the state-owned airline Malev, and her mother Luca Hingyi to the board of the State Lottery.

Additionally, Mr Torgyan's wife is a deputy in the lower house, and their son, Attila is on the board of the state news agency, MTI.