Hungarys anti-corruption watchdog demands criminal probes into Orbn-era officials over EU fund embezzlement
Hungary’s anti-corruption watchdog has called for criminal investigations into top officials from former prime minister Viktor Orbán’s government over the alleged embezzlement of billions of euros in EU funds, POLITICO reported on Monday. The National Protective Force (NÉBIH), Hungary’s integrity authority, told the outlet that the missing funds—reportedly in the “double-digit billions”—demand urgent scrutiny, with former ministers and senior bureaucrats named as potential targets. The watchdog’s intervention follows a string of scandals involving EU disbursements under Orbán’s 16-year rule, which critics say were riddled with mismanagement and favoritism.
The call for probes comes as Péter Magyar, Hungary’s new premier, seeks to distance his government from Orbán’s legacy. In an interview with *Der Spiegel*, Magyar described Hungary as a “hostage state” under Orbán, vowing to dismantle the autocratic structures that enabled systemic graft. His administration has already moved to restore transparency in public procurement, including the relaunch of the *Vonatinfo* railway information portal, which was suspended under Orbán amid accusations of data suppression .
The integrity watchdog’s demand follows revelations that the Culture Ministry, led by Zoltán Tarr, is investigating Hungarian organizations abroad—including media outlets funded by Budapest—for allegedly promoting government propaganda. Tarr accused supporters of Romanian-born activist George Simion of stoking ethnic divisions, a claim critics dismiss as an attempt to silence dissent .
Meanwhile, the new government faces pressure to reform Hungary’s notoriously opaque asset declaration system. Ágnes Forsthoffer, speaker of the opposition Tisza party, alleged that the current framework was designed to shield corrupt officials, noting that her party is pushing for a revamp ahead of the next cycle of disclosures .
Scandals continue to dog Orbán’s allies. Former defense minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky admitted to spending 4.3 million forints (€11,000) on a single night at Istanbul’s Four Seasons Hotel in 2025, a stay partially covered by the Turkish host and Hungary’s foreign ministry. The revelation, uncovered by *HVG*, has fueled accusations of profligacy, with critics questioning why public funds were not used for a more economical option .
As Magyar’s government grapples with these controversies, opposition figures warn that the Fidesz party’s grip on power remains entrenched. At a Sunday rally outside the Sándor Palace, supporters of President Tamás Sulyok—once a loyal Orbán ally—chanted “Viktor, Viktor,” while Fidesz critics accused the premier of dismantling democracy through his two-thirds parliamentary majority. “The Fidesz won’t rejuvenate itself for Sulyok,” one protester told *444.hu*, reflecting the deepening fractures within Hungary’s political elite .








