Details of the ongoing investigation into Jobbik over party financing

The State Audit Office (ÁSZ) cannot take into consideration the political implications of its investigations, László Domokos, the head of the office, told news portal Origo in an interview on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing investigation into Jobbik.

Earlier this month, ÁSZ issued a report indicating that Jobbik would have to pay a 660 million forint (EUR 2.1m) fine for alleged party financing violations. In the spring, the party ran an anti-government poster campaign. The audit office conducted a financial investigation of the campaign, determining that Jobbik had received a sweetheart deal worth some 330 million forints in violation of the rules in force. It ordered the party to pay a penalty of double this amount.

ÁSZ’s job is to enforce the law and the body is politically independent in carrying out its duties, Domokos said. He said the audit office had become “the most transparent organisation” in Hungarian public life.

Domokos said Jobbik had refused to cooperate with the audit office over the course of the investigation and “a situation indicating criminal activity had arisen”. “This is why we came forward with a draft report,” he said.