Hungary’s Parliament is set to deliberate on whether to revoke the immunity of two former ministers, Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták, as the country intensifies its efforts to combat corruption through the new National Asset Recovery and Protection Office. Prime Minister Péter Magyar has stated that this move signifies a pivotal step in the government’s broader anti-corruption initiative, termed “Operation Purgatory.”
The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, established in 2026, is tasked with tracing, securing, and recovering public assets that may have been unlawfully removed from state ownership. Its purview covers public procurement, state subsidies, concessions, European Union funds, and state-owned enterprises, with the authority to conduct investigations and pursue legal action in relevant cases.
Balázs Hankó is under investigation in connection with the National Cultural Fund, while Miklós Seszták is linked to a separate case involving Volánbusz. Both former ministers have denied any wrongdoing, and no convictions have been reported in either case at this time.
In addition to these cases, Parliament is expected to review immunity issues concerning Prime Minister Péter Magyar and MP Mária Gurzó. Prime Minister Magyar has previously emphasized that the asset recovery office is a crucial element of his administration’s institutional and anti-corruption reforms. However, the office has not disclosed which specific cases it will prioritize for formal investigation.