Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar Vows Accountability for Orbán Era

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, less than six months into his term, is actively pursuing former officials he accuses of corruption and abuses of power from the previous Viktor Orbán government. Magyar stated in an interview that efforts to recover allegedly misused assets are underway, emphasizing that accountability must adhere to the rule of law, which he contends was often disregarded under Orbán's leadership.

"The Hungarian people obviously want to see results in holding those responsible accountable, punishing them and recovering stolen property," Magyar said from his Budapest office. He added that during Orbán's 16-year rule, Hungary transformed from one of the European Union's high achievers into one of its poorest and most corrupt member states.

Magyar's center-right, pro-European Tisza party decisively defeated Orbán’s far-right Fidesz party in April. Orbán's government, which described itself as an "illiberal democracy," had dismantled checks and balances and enriched allied business figures, often through EU-financed state contracts. Concerns over corruption and democratic backsliding led the European Union to begin withholding billions in funding to Hungary in 2021.

To address these issues, Magyar's government established the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office. This new agency possesses investigative and prosecutorial powers to pursue cases of misused public funds, described by Magyar as a "superauthority" capable of coordinating police, prosecutors, and the national tax authority to expedite complex corruption investigations. Hungary has also applied to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, reversing Orbán's prior refusal to participate.

While several former officials have been detained on suspicion of corruption-related offenses, Magyar acknowledged the public's impatience for swifter results. "I feel the impatience," he stated, "But everyone must understand that we want to build a rule of law state, a democratic country, a country that complies with EU and fundamental rights, and that takes time."

Rapid reforms aimed at combating corruption and strengthening judicial independence contributed to the EU's announcement in May to release 16.4 billion euros (approximately $18.4 billion) that had been frozen under Orbán. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to visit Budapest, signaling an improvement in relations with the EU.

However, differences persist regarding migration policy. Magyar's administration intends to maintain Orbán-era immigration and asylum policies, including the escort of irregular migrants back across the southern border into Serbia and the continuation of razor-wire fences erected in 2015. In 2024, the European Court of Justice fined Hungary 200 million euros ($225 million) plus a daily penalty for failing to comply with a 2020 ruling on its asylum and removal practices. Magyar expressed his expectation for an agreement to end these fines by year's end and linked the dispute to negotiations on the EU's next seven-year budget.

Magyar is also working to mend relations with Ukraine after Orbán repeatedly blocked aid to Kyiv and opposed EU sanctions against Russia, while maintaining cordial ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Magyar's government has declared Russia a national security threat and expressed solidarity with Ukraine. Nevertheless, Hungary maintains its demand that Ukraine protect the rights of its ethnic Hungarian minority to education in their mother tongue. Ukraine's parliament recently expanded minority-language education rights, a move Magyar called "a chance to open a new chapter in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations."

Despite these improvements, Magyar opposes accelerated EU membership for Ukraine, arguing that accession must be merit-based and that a country at war cannot join the bloc. "It undermines the credibility of the European Union if you put some (prospective) member countries on a fast track," he said.

Domestically, Magyar's proposed 2027 budget includes tax cuts for lower earners and a new wealth tax. This policy aims to address the economic division he attributes to Orbán's tenure, separating Hungary into the wealthy and "all the rest." The government anticipates that a 1% annual tax on net wealth above 1 billion forints ($3.1 million) will affect approximately 15,000 individuals and generate 200 billion forints ($617 million). Additionally, plans include doubling child allowances and more than quadrupling the monthly minimum pension to around $370, which Magyar described as a matter of "humanity" and "social justice."