Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Sunday evening that Hungary’s newly created National Asset Recovery and Protection Office will begin investigating several high-profile corruption cases on Monday, while parliament is expected to vote on lifting the immunity of two former ministers.
In a Facebook post published on Sunday evening, Magyar said the government’s “Operation Purgatory” would move into a new phase on Monday.
“On Monday, the landing begins as part of Operation Purgatory. The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office will begin investigating several high-profile corruption cases. Parliament will also hand over two corrupt politicians to investigators,” Magyar wrote.
The “two corrupt politicians” reference appears to concern former ministers Balázs Hankó and Miklós Seszták, whose immunity is due to be considered by parliament on Monday. Both face criminal allegations, but neither has been convicted, and both have denied wrongdoing. Parliament is also expected to consider the immunity of Prime Minister Péter Magyar and MP Mária Gurzó in separate cases.
What is the asset recovery office?
The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH) was established in 2026 as an independent state institution tasked with tracing, protecting and recovering public assets believed to have been unlawfully removed from public ownership.
Under the law establishing the body, it can examine transactions involving public procurement, state subsidies, concessions, EU funds, state-owned companies and other forms of public property. It also has investigative powers and can represent the public prosecution in court in cases falling within its remit.
The office was one of the central elements of Magyar’s “Operation Purgatory”, which he first announced in parliament in June as part of a broader anti-corruption and institutional reform programme.
For more on Monday’s high-profile immunity votes, see our earlier report: Hungarian immunity rights: Prosecutors seek suspension for PM Magyar and two former Fidesz ministers
Several corruption cases already in focus
Magyar did not specify in his Sunday post which cases the NVVH would formally open first. He has, however, repeatedly pointed to several high-profile cases involving public funds, state contracts and institutions linked to the former government.
Prosecutors are seeking to suspend Balázs Hankó’s immunity in connection with an investigation into the National Cultural Fund, while Miklós Seszták faces a separate corruption case linked to Volánbusz.
Monday’s extraordinary parliamentary session will add further political weight to the launch of the new office, with lawmakers expected to vote on several immunity cases involving senior politicians.
At the same time, the NVVH is expected to begin turning the government’s anti-corruption campaign into actual investigations and asset-recovery proceedings. That will make Monday an early test of how far the new authority is prepared to go — and which cases it chooses to prioritise first.
Read more from us: Hungarian Parliament elects five new constitutional judges
Although many, here at this site, carry on about Russia being corrupt, the reality is that Russia is far behind us, The West, in this regard. Yes, in my country, the disUnited States of America, the corruption in our national layers of government is so sublime that there is nothing of ours, the citizenry, that they do not sell. We are the ones who need a Magyar.