Hungary's New Prime Minister Pledges Committees to Examine Prior Government Conduct

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar told lawmakers on Tuesday that his party's parliamentary majority will form six investigative committees to examine alleged corruption and abuses of power during Viktor Orbán's previous government. Magyar said the committees will review the suspected misappropriation of public funds managed by Hungary's National Bank, a case already under police investigation that potentially involves hundreds of millions of dollars.

One committee will examine a pardon issued by former President Katalin Novák to an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case, which prompted her resignation in 2024. Magyar also pledged to introduce a constitutional amendment dissolving the Sovereignty Protection Office, an agency established in 2023 to investigate non-governmental organizations, media outlets, and political parties.

Magyar said his government will enforce an eight-year limit on the prime minister's office and examine applying the same restriction to other elected positions. The new administration also plans to reduce salaries for the prime minister, cabinet members, state-company executives, and lawmakers.

“We will put all corruption and abuses of power on full display,” Magyar said. “The Hungarian people have the right to know who benefited from their money, who stole their money, who got rich from the vulnerability of the people.