Hungary’s Parliament is poised to decide on Monday whether to revoke the immunity of two former ministers as part of a broader initiative to tackle corruption within the country. This move comes as the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, established in 2026, embarks on several prominent corruption investigations. The office is tasked with tracking, safeguarding, and reclaiming public assets believed to have been unlawfully diverted from state ownership.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar has described these proceedings as a critical step in his administration’s anti-corruption strategy, known as “Operation Purgatory.” The newly formed asset recovery office is empowered to scrutinize activities related to public procurement, state subsidies, concessions, European Union funds, and state-owned enterprises. Furthermore, it has the authority to conduct investigations and represent public prosecution in related legal proceedings.
The two former ministers involved in the upcoming parliamentary session are Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták. Hankó is under investigation concerning the National Cultural Fund, while Seszták is linked to a separate case involving Volánbusz. Both politicians have denied any wrongdoing, and no convictions have been reported in either case thus far.
In addition to these cases, Parliament will also review immunity issues involving Prime Minister Péter Magyar himself and MP Mária Gurzó. Magyar has previously associated the new asset recovery office with his broader agenda of institutional and anti-corruption reforms. However, the office has yet to announce which cases will be prioritized for formal investigation.