Hungarian Prime Minister Announces Committees to Investigate Orbán-Era Abuses

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar has declared that his party intends to establish parliamentary investigative committees to scrutinize alleged corruption and abuses of power that occurred during the previous administration of Viktor Orbán. Magyar's center-right Tisza party achieved a decisive victory in last month's elections, securing a supermajority that empowers them to dismantle policies critics claim helped Orbán consolidate power as an authoritarian leader.

A core promise of Tisza's campaign was to hold Orbán, his Fidesz party, and their associated business elites accountable for alleged misconduct. Magyar stated that six parliamentary committees will be formed to investigate various issues from Orbán's era. These include suspicions of embezzlement from the Hungarian National Bank, which is already under police investigation and reportedly involves millions of dollars. "We will fully expose any corruption and abuse of power. The Hungarian people have the right to know who benefited from their money, who stole their money, who got rich at the expense of the people," Magyar declared.

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We will fully expose any corruption and abuse of power. The Hungarian people have the right to know who benefited from their money, who stole their money, who got rich at the expense of the people.

During his 16 years as prime minister, Orbán faced numerous accusations from critics of overseeing widespread misuse of public funds, including awarding lucrative state contracts to family members and business associates. He was also accused of using state power to undermine democratic institutions, leading the European Parliament to declare Hungary no longer a democracy in 2022.

Magyar's government is also considering an eight-year term limit for prime ministers and other elected officials, a restriction that would apply to Magyar himself. "No one should imagine that elected power is inherited forever. Power exercised without time limits leads to a loss of control in any democratic system," Magyar said. Additionally, an investigative committee will examine the details surrounding the pardon granted by former President Katalin Novák to an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case, an act that led to her resignation in 2024. Magyar also pledged to dissolve the "Sovereign Protection Office," an agency established by Orbán's government to investigate NGOs, media, and political parties, purportedly to counter foreign influence.

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No one should imagine that elected power is inherited forever. Power exercised without time limits leads to a loss of control in any democratic system.