Hungary’s Parliament is set to deliberate on Monday over whether to lift the immunity of two former ministers as part of the government’s intensified efforts to combat corruption. This move coincides with the commencement of operations by the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, a body established in 2026 to tackle high-profile corruption cases.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar emphasized that these proceedings represent a significant step in his administration’s anti-corruption initiative, termed “Operation Purgatory.” The asset recovery office is tasked with identifying and retrieving public assets that may have been misappropriated from state ownership. Its mandate includes examining public procurement, state subsidies, concessions, European Union funds, and the operations of state-owned companies. Additionally, it has the power to conduct investigations and act as public prosecutor in related legal proceedings.
The two ministers under scrutiny are Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták. Hankó is implicated in an investigation involving the National Cultural Fund, while Seszták is linked to a case concerning Volánbusz. Both have denied any wrongdoing, and there have been no convictions in these cases as of yet.
Aside from these cases, Hungary’s Parliament is also expected to consider immunity issues involving Prime Minister Péter Magyar himself and MP Mária Gurzó. The Prime Minister has previously associated the asset recovery office with his broader agenda of institutional and anti-corruption reforms.
While the asset recovery office has not disclosed which cases it will prioritize, the focus on high-level government figures underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing corruption at the highest levels of power. The outcomes of these deliberations could mark a pivotal moment in Hungary’s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and accountability within its public institutions.