Hungarian PM forms six probes into Orbán-era corruption

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced to parliament on Tuesday the formation of six investigative committees to examine alleged corruption and abuses of power during the previous administration of Viktor Orbán. The move follows a decisive electoral victory last month by Magyar’s center-right Tisza party, which secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Magyar stated the committees will scrutinize several issues from Orbán’s 16-year tenure, with a primary focus on the suspected misappropriation of public funds managed by Hungary’s National Bank. That case is already under police investigation and could involve hundreds of millions of dollars. The Hungarian people have the right to know who benefited from their money, who stole their money, who got rich from the vulnerability of the people, Magyar told lawmakers.

During his time in office, Orbán faced widespread accusations from critics of overseeing the misuse of public funds, including by directing state contracts to family members and allied business figures. He was also accused of eroding democratic institutions, a charge that led the European Parliament in 2022 to declare Hungary was no longer a democracy.