Hungary’s Parliament is set to deliberate on Monday whether to revoke the immunity of two former ministers, Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták, amidst ongoing corruption investigations. This session marks a significant step in Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s anti-corruption initiative, dubbed “Operation Purgatory,” which aims to tackle high-profile corruption cases through the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office.
Established in 2026, the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office is tasked with tracing, protecting, and recovering public assets suspected of being unlawfully siphoned from state ownership. It holds the authority to scrutinize cases involving public procurement, state subsidies, concessions, EU funds, and state-owned enterprises, and can also represent public prosecution in court proceedings.
Hankó is currently under investigation for activities related to the National Cultural Fund, while Seszták is involved in a separate case concerning Volánbusz. Both politicians have denied any wrongdoing, and no convictions have been reported so far.
The parliamentary session will also address separate immunity issues involving Prime Minister Péter Magyar himself and MP Mária Gurzó. These deliberations are part of a broader effort to implement institutional and anti-corruption reforms spearheaded by Magyar.
While the asset recovery office has not yet specified which cases it intends to prioritize, the upcoming parliamentary discussions underscore a commitment to enforcing accountability and transparency within Hungary’s political and economic spheres.