Hungary’s Parliament is set to deliberate on Monday whether to revoke the immunity of two former ministers, Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták, as the country’s National Asset Recovery and Protection Office embarks on investigating several significant corruption cases. This move aligns with Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s anti-corruption initiative dubbed “Operation Purgatory.”
The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, established in 2026, is tasked with identifying, protecting, and reclaiming public assets that may have been improperly extracted from state ownership. Its remit includes scrutinizing public procurement, state subsidies, concessions, European Union funds, and state-owned enterprises. The office has the authority to conduct investigations and represent the public prosecution in related legal proceedings.
Balázs Hankó is being investigated in connection with allegations involving the National Cultural Fund, while Miklós Seszták is implicated in a separate case concerning Volánbusz. Both former ministers have denied any wrongdoing, and as of now, no convictions have been recorded in either case.
In addition to Hankó and Seszták, Parliament will also review immunity cases concerning Prime Minister Péter Magyar and MP Mária Gurzó. The asset recovery office has not yet announced which cases will be prioritized for formal investigation.
Prime Minister Magyar has positioned the establishment of the asset recovery office as a crucial component of his broader institutional and anti-corruption reforms. The office’s activities are expected to play a significant role in his government’s efforts to address corruption within the country.