Hungary’s Magyar vows to probe alleged misconduct by Orb谩n’s government

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥� Hungarian Prime Minister told lawmakers on Tuesday his party’s majority in Parliament will form investigative committees to look into alleged corruption and abuses of power by Viktor Orb谩n and his previous government.

Magyar and his center-right Tisza party last month. The win, which gave Tisza a two-thirds majority, allows it to roll back many of the policies that gave Orb谩n a reputation among his critics as .

Among Tisza’s biggest campaign promises was holding Orb谩n, his nationalist-populist Fidesz party and their allied business elites accountable for alleged misconduct.

Magyar said Tuesday six parliamentary investigative committees will be set up to examine a number of issues from Orb谩n’s tenure, including the suspected misappropriation of public funds managed by Hungary’s National Bank, a case currently under police investigation that potentially involves hundreds of millions of dollars.

鈥淲e will put all corruption and abuses of power on full display,鈥� Magyar said. 鈥淭he 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.鈥�

During his 16 years as Hungary鈥檚 prime minister, Orb谩n was accused by many critics of overseeing the widespread misuse of public funds, including through funneling lucrative state contracts to family members and a group of business figures allied with his party.

He was also accused of using state power to erode democratic institutions, leading the European Parliament in 2022 to a democracy.

Since , lawmakers from Magyar鈥檚 party have submitted a constitutional amendment that would limit prime ministers to eight years in office, a restriction that would apply to Magyar. Orb谩n, who served four consecutive terms, wouldn’t be able to serve as prime minister again.

On Tuesday, Magyar said his government would also look into enforcing the eight-year limit on other elected offices, adding: 鈥淣o one should imagine that electoral authority is inherited forever. Power exercised without limits leads to loss of control over time in any democratic system.”

Magyar said the task of another investigative committee will be to look into the details of a pardon issued to an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case by Hungary鈥檚 former president, Katalin Nov谩k, which .

The new premier has also pledged to pass a constitutional amendment that will dissolve Hungary’s , an authority created by Orb谩n’s government in 2023 tasked with investigating non-governmental organizations, media outlets and political parties in the name of preventing foreign influence.

Magyar also vowed his government would eliminate 鈥減olitical privileges鈥� previously enjoyed by officeholders, including reducing salaries for the prime minister and cabinet members, executives at state companies, and lawmakers.