Hungary’s new government is preparing to launch investigations into the alleged misuse of public funds and European Union resources by the previous administration, with Foreign Minister Anita Orbán saying legal proceedings could begin within days.
FM Anita Orbán says examinations will happen within days
Speaking at the Globsec Forum in Prague, her first major international appearance since taking office, Orbán said the government would thoroughly examine public spending and refer any suspected irregularities or signs of corruption to the relevant authorities.
“We will pursue every stolen public fund because it was stolen from the Hungarian people,” she declared during a discussion moderated by Politico. When asked whether investigations could start within weeks, the minister suggested a much faster timeline. Referring to the pace of the new administration’s work, she said proceedings would need to begin “within days”.
EU funds among the government’s top priorities
Anita Orbán also outlined the government’s efforts to restore Hungary’s access to frozen EU funding. According to the minister, the country lost access to substantial financial resources because of corruption concerns and a lack of transparency under the previous government. She noted that around EUR 2 billion in EU funding has already been permanently lost.
The cabinet’s immediate priority is securing access to Hungary’s allocation from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), a package worth EUR 10.4 billion that includes both grants and loans. A Hungarian delegation is expected to travel to Brussels next week for further talks with European institutions. However, Orbán stressed that the upcoming meeting would be only one step in a longer negotiation process.
To unlock the funds, Hungary must meet a series of EU requirements, including so-called “super milestones” aimed at strengthening transparency, anti-corruption safeguards and institutional independence. The government has already submitted a reform package to parliament and faces an August 31 deadline to complete the necessary changes, reports 24.hu.
Compromise in national interests: Anita Orbán on returning EU funds
Rule of law reforms promised, with accountability as key
The foreign minister pledged that the government would restore key rule-of-law guarantees, including the autonomy of public institutions and press freedom, while maintaining what she described as a policy of “zero tolerance” towards corruption. Anita Orbán said these reforms are essential not only for regaining access to EU resources but also for rebuilding trust in state institutions.
The issue of accountability was one of the most closely watched topics during the Prague discussion. Orbán confirmed that the government intends to review all public spending decisions made under the previous administration.
The minister’s comments signal that anti-corruption investigations are set to become one of the defining priorities of the new government as it seeks both to recover lost EU funding and demonstrate a clear break with past practices.
In case you missed it: PM Magyar claims they will work all summer to bring EU funds home, Brussels signals good prospects
