Hungary’s Parliament is poised to deliberate on the potential revocation of immunity for two former ministers as the country intensifies its anti-corruption efforts. This move is part of the broader initiative known as “Operation Purgatory,” spearheaded by Prime Minister Péter Magyar. Central to this effort is the recently established National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, which began its operations in 2026 with a mandate to trace and recover public assets unlawfully removed from state ownership.
The office is empowered to scrutinize cases related to public procurement, state subsidies, concessions, European Union funds, and state-owned companies. It also holds the authority to conduct investigations and represent public prosecution in court proceedings relevant to these matters.
The parliamentary session scheduled for Monday will focus on the cases involving Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták, both former ministers. Hankó is under investigation for issues related to the National Cultural Fund, while Seszták faces inquiries concerning Volánbusz. Both politicians have denied any wrongdoing, and no convictions have been reported in either case.
In addition to these cases, Parliament is also expected to address separate immunity discussions involving Prime Minister Péter Magyar and MP Mária Gurzó. The Prime Minister has linked the establishment of the asset recovery office to his broader program of institutional and anti-corruption reforms.
While the asset recovery office has begun its work, it has yet to announce which cases will be formally investigated first. These developments signal a significant step in Hungary’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and ensure the integrity of public assets.