Prime Minister Péter Magyar has hit back at criticism surrounding Anna Róza Unger, who was elected president of Hungary’s newly established National Asset Protection and Asset Recovery Office (NVVH) by Parliament on Friday.
Magyar responded to the criticism in several Facebook posts following Unger’s election, arguing that the performance of a public official should ultimately be judged by their actions rather than by the opinions of their critics.
“In a functioning and humane country, a leader’s work is judged by their actions, not by the opinions of pundits,” Magyar wrote. He added that choosing the head of a major public institution should not be treated as a popularity contest.
“The selection of the head of a serious institution is not an elimination show and not a vote on popularity,” the prime minister said.
Magyar takes aim at Ákos Hadházy
Magyar also appeared to respond directly to criticism from former MP Ákos Hadházy, who has questioned aspects of the selection process for the new office’s leadership. Hadházy announced that he would submit a public-interest data request to the minister responsible for the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to obtain information about the evaluation system used in the recruitment process.
In response, Magyar wrote that the “so-called expert” was asking the Prime Minister’s Office for information even though Parliament had conducted the selection process. The prime minister also referred to Hadházy, writing:
“Many people wanted a veterinarian to be appointed to head the NVVH and the Prosecutor General’s Office, and now they object that we did not choose a lawyer.”
Magyar did not name Hadházy directly in the post. However, Hadházy then reacted to this post, writing:
“Dear Prime Minister, anyone who believes the government should not be criticised wants New Fidesz and NER 2.0. And they are working toward that end. I hope that is not what you want. Allow me—as a veterinarian—to oppose this by expressing my opinion. Of course, I will also request the scoring system from Parliament, and I very much hope you will support its release. I am turning to the Prime Minister’s Office because, to my knowledge, that is where these matters were decided.”
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Unger’s lack of legal background questioned
One of the main criticisms of Unger’s appointment is that she is not a lawyer. Magyar addressed the issue at a press conference after Parliament’s vote, arguing that Hungarian law does not require the president of the NVVH to be a lawyer.
He pointed to the FBI as an example, saying that its director is not necessarily a lawyer either.
“What is important, and what it will be, is that the investigative deputy president, the deputy president responsible for prosecutions and the deputy president responsible for appeals should be lawyers and prosecutors,” Magyar said.
The new office is being established with a broader leadership structure, with specialist legal responsibilities assigned to its deputy heads.
Magyar also responds to criticism from within Tisza
The appointment has not been universally welcomed even among supporters of Magyar’s Tisza Party. In a comment beneath one of his posts, the prime minister addressed Tisza supporters who had expressed dissatisfaction with Unger’s election.
“It is perfectly fine to criticise and disagree, but I ask that we do not go below a certain level,” Magyar wrote.
Unger was elected by Parliament on Friday with 137 votes in favour, seven against and one abstention. Katalin Tasnádi was elected as investigative deputy president with 139 votes in favour, six against and one abstention.
The two officials subsequently took their oaths in Parliament. The new asset recovery office is expected to play a central role in the government’s efforts to recover allegedly misused public funds and protect state assets.
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