Hungary’s Parliament is set to deliberate on whether to lift the immunity of two former ministers as part of a broader anti-corruption initiative. This decision is closely tied to the activities of the newly established National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, which has been tasked with investigating several high-profile corruption cases under the government’s “Operation Purgatory” program.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar has positioned these developments as a significant step in his administration’s effort to combat corruption. The asset recovery office, which began operations in 2026, focuses on tracing and reclaiming public assets that may have been wrongfully taken from state ownership. It holds the authority to scrutinize matters involving public procurement, state subsidies, concessions, European Union funds, and state-owned enterprises. Additionally, the office is empowered to conduct investigations and act as a representative in court proceedings related to public prosecution.
The two former ministers facing potential immunity revocation are Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták. Hankó is under investigation concerning the National Cultural Fund, while Seszták’s case involves Volánbusz. Both ex-ministers have denied any wrongdoing, and there have been no convictions reported against them so far.
In addition to these cases, the parliamentary session is expected to address immunity issues involving Prime Minister Péter Magyar and Member of Parliament Mária Gurzó. Although the asset recovery office has not yet disclosed which cases will be prioritized for investigation, Magyar has linked its work to his broader agenda of institutional reforms aimed at reducing corruption.
This move underscores Hungary’s ongoing commitment to enhancing transparency and accountability within its governmental structures, as it seeks to address and resolve allegations of corruption that have emerged in recent years.
