Hungary hunts down Orbán-era corruption money

Hungary has created a new anti-corruption authority to pursue money that the government says was misappropriated during Viktor Orbán’s previous rule.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s government estimates that between 8% and 10% of the country’s gross domestic product was stolen in recent years. Magyar, the leader of Tisza, has put the alleged loss at at least €60 billion, equivalent to 660 billion Swedish kronor.

The authority will identify, trace and recover assets allegedly taken unlawfully from public funds, the government said when Parliament adopted the law for the body this summer. It will also seek to bring those responsible to justice.

A successful anti-corruption campaign could speed Hungary’s access to European Union funds that remain frozen. The authority will be headed by political scientist Anna Unger and several prosecutors.