Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has pledged to hold former officials accountable for alleged corruption under Viktor Orbán while maintaining Hungary’s strict immigration policies, in his first interview with a global news organisation since taking office.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar gave an exclusive interview

Speaking exclusively to The Associated Press (AP) on Tuesday, the prime minister said his government was working to recover public assets allegedly misused during Orbán’s 16 years in power. However, he stressed that investigations must respect the rule of law.

“The Hungarian people obviously want to see results in holding those responsible accountable, punishing them and recovering stolen property,” Péter Magyar said. His centre-right, pro-European Tisza party defeated Orbán’s Fidesz in April, ending more than a decade and a half of government marked by disputes with the European Union (EU) over corruption, democratic standards and migration.

New push to recover public funds

Magyar’s government has established a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office with investigative and prosecutorial powers. He described it as a “superauthority” capable of coordinating with police, prosecutors and tax officials to speed up complex corruption investigations. Hungary has also applied to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which investigates crimes involving EU funds — a significant departure from Orbán’s refusal to join.

Although some former officials have already been detained on suspicion of corruption-related offences, Péter Magyar acknowledged public frustration over the pace of progress. He insisted, however, that building a democratic state governed by law would take time. Reforms have helped pave the way for the EU to announce the release of EUR 16.4 billion in funding for Hungary that had been frozen under the previous government.

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Migration remains a sticking point

Despite improved relations with Brussels, the 45-year-old politician said Hungary would retain strict border controls, including razor-wire fencing and the practice of escorting irregular migrants back across the southern border into Serbia. Hungary was fined EUR 200 million by the EU’s Court of Justice in 2024, plus EUR 1 million for every subsequent day of non-compliance with an earlier asylum ruling.

Magyar said Hungary had already lost EUR 1 billion through the penalties and expected an agreement to end the dispute by the end of the year. He also linked the issue to negotiations over the EU’s next seven-year budget, arguing that a common budget would be difficult to approve while the dispute remained unresolved.

Ukraine ties improve, but differences remain

Prime minister Péter Magyar has sought to repair relations with Ukraine, which deteriorated under Orbán. He welcomed new legislation expanding minority-language education rights, calling it an opportunity to open a new chapter in bilateral relations. However, he opposes fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU membership, arguing that accession should be merit-based and that a country at war should not join the bloc.

Stay up-to-date: PM Péter Magyar reveals how Hungary will fund minimum wage tax cuts in 2027

Wealth tax to fund social measures

Domestically, Péter Magyar’s proposed 2027 budget includes a 1% annual tax on net wealth exceeding HUF 1 billion (more than EUR 2.7 million), rising to 1.5% on wealth above HUF 100 billion (EUR 273.5 million). The government estimates the measure could affect around 15,000 people and raise HUF 200 billion (almost EUR 547 million) annually.

The revenue would help fund tax cuts for lower earners, doubled child benefits and an increase in the minimum monthly pension from HUF 28,500 to HUF 120,000 (from EUR 77.95 to EUR 328.23). Magyar defended the measures as a matter of fairness, saying that supporting poorer households does not make him a socialist or a left-wing politician, but reflected “humanity” and “social justice”.

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