Péter Magyar: Outgoing PM Orbán sides with money-laundering oligarchs in latest cabinet decision

Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar said on Wednesday that Viktor Orbán’s outgoing government had rejected his call for a decree to extend the suspension period for transfers suspected of money laundering from a few days to up to 90 days, leaving the national tax authority (NAV) without the power to block such transactions for longer.

Billions can be siphoned from Hungary with Orbán’s help

In a Facebook post from Brussels, the Tisza Party’s leader reported receiving multiple alerts that “oligarchs and politicians” close to the current Orbán government were attempting to siphon billions of forints to South America and Asia.

Magyar is in Brussels for talks with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa. Magyar also disclosed that the government, at Orbán’s behest, had scrapped a rule requiring the finance minister’s approval for ministry spending and commitments.

Péter Magyar: “We know what you’re doing“

“This means ministries can now splash out billions to cronies before the change of government,” he said. “We’re talking tens of billions — possibly hundreds of billions of forints — while a caretaker government should have no such power,” he added.

Addressing Orbán directly, Magyar warned: “We know what you’re doing. Everyone involved in these deals — those who made the decisions, or those who failed to stop them — will be held accountable.”

Péter Magyar discussed the alleged machinations of the outgoing Orbán cabinet in a car interview:

Meanwhile, Magyar called securing billions in EU funds for Hungarians, businesses, and the country a top priority for his party and Hungary. The most urgent is the Recovery and Resilience Facility, worth 10.4 billion euros — 6.5 billion in non-repayable grants and 3.9 billion in low-interest loans.

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“Every EU country has received these funds except Hungary, due to Orbán’s industrial-scale corruption,” he said. The deadline to access the funds is Aug 31.

Constructive talks to get frozen EU funds

Experts have been working for weeks to unlock the funds, but political decisions were now needed, he said. “Negotiations are progressing well, with constructive engagement from EU institutions and member states. Everyone understands how critical this is for Hungary,” Magyar noted.

To access the funds, Hungary must meet strict conditions, some already fulfilled, but new legislation and coordinated project work are required to restructure, audit and ensure transparency in existing projects, the incoming prime minister added.

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