Hungary has a new chief public prosecutor. Parliament elected Péter Fejes to the nine-year post on Tuesday, with the experienced prosecutor promising to restore public trust in an institution that has faced serious criticism over its independence and handling of politically sensitive cases.
Fejes received 139 votes in favour and six against in a secret ballot. Following his election, he acknowledged that some decisions made by the prosecution service in recent years had rightly damaged public confidence, and issued an apology on behalf of the organisation.
Speaking at a press conference, he said:
“On behalf of the prosecution service, I apologise to society for certain decisions – and failures to act – which have rightly and justifiably offended the public’s sense of justice.”
He also apologised to former colleagues who had devoted their lives to the institution but had felt compelled to leave.
Nearly 40 years in the prosecution service
Fejes, who describes himself as a native of Szombathely in western Hungary, graduated in law from the University of Pécs and was appointed as a prosecutor in 1988.
He began his career at the local prosecutor’s office before moving to the Vas County Chief Prosecutor’s Office. There, he became a group leader and later served as the organisation’s spokesperson, becoming one of its best-known public faces.
In 2008, he was appointed chief prosecutor of Veszprém County. However, his career took an unexpected turn in 2012, when then-chief public prosecutor Péter Polt dismissed him with immediate effect and without giving a reason, Telex reports.
Fejes subsequently continued working as a subordinate prosecutor at the Győr Appellate Chief Prosecutor’s Office. His final position was deputy chief prosecutor for criminal law at the Vas County Chief Prosecutor’s Office. He retired in 2025 after almost four decades of service.
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High-profile criminal cases and academic work
Over the years, Fejes has been involved in several major criminal cases that attracted nationwide attention.
His first nationally known case was the 1998 child murder in Körmend. He also supervised the investigation into the murder of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma in 2009. However, he considers the proceedings against those responsible for the 2010 red mud disaster one of the most important cases of his career.
Beyond his prosecutorial work, Fejes remains active in academia. He teaches criminal law and sports law at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) and Pázmány Péter Catholic University. He is also a devoted supporter of Szombathely’s Falco basketball team and holds a senior position in the European Wine Knights organisation.
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Plans for a major overhaul
Before his election, Fejes told Válasz Online that the prosecution service needed immediate and far-reaching personnel and organisational changes.
His proposals include reducing the size of the Office of the Prosecutor General, reviewing the role of the Central Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Investigation, addressing significant salary differences and making a prosecutorial career more attractive.
He described the organisation as morally shaken and professionally stalled, pointing to a lack of trust and prolonged vacancies in senior positions.
Fejes also suggested that cases should be reopened where new evidence emerges, saying that some files may need to be “dusted off”. He believes senior prosecutors should be more visible in public, with important decisions explained by the people responsible for them rather than communicated solely through official statements.
A difficult task ahead
The new chief public prosecutor inherits an institution whose reputation has been seriously damaged. Under Péter Polt, who led the service for years, critics repeatedly accused the prosecution of failing to pursue corruption allegations involving government politicians and business figures close to the former administration.
The leadership crisis deepened in 2026. Former chief public prosecutor Gábor Bálint Nagy resigned in July, while the former head of the Central Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Investigation, Pál Fürcht, had already stepped down in June. Fürcht subsequently alleged that investigations into politically sensitive cases had been influenced by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Fejes now faces the challenge of restoring confidence in the institution and demonstrating that prosecutors can operate independently, regardless of political interests.
