The Hungarian government has taken serious action regarding one of its key promises to investigate corruption during Viktor Urban's era by arresting two lawmakers and a former minister. Peter Magiar, the Prime Minister of Hungary, has stated that the time has come to "settle the accounts with Urban's mafia government." During the election campaign, Magiar announced a plan to prosecute corruption and, as Prime Minister, initiated a "cleansing operation" in late June 2026.
Significant arrests and their impacts
Despite promises, no significant developments had been observed in this regard. However, earlier this week, Hungarians witnessed the first major progress in this direction. Two lawmakers and a former minister named Balazs Hanko and Miklos Szatark were arrested on corruption charges. Hanko, a former Minister of Culture and Innovation and a representative of Urban's Fidesz party, is specifically accused of illegally allocating around 50 million euros from the National Culture Fund.
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On the other hand, Miklos Szatark, one of Hungary's wealthiest representatives, is accused of receiving billion-dollar bribes. Along with an accomplice, he allegedly received about 30 million euros from contracts related to the Hungarian state bus company and the construction sector between 2015 and 2018. Szatark went to the prosecutor's office immediately after his immunity was revoked and was sent to pre-trial detention.
Political challenges and their consequences
Meanwhile, Balazs Hanko appeared in parliament with his family after his immunity was revoked and attempted to avoid the authorities' decision. He only left the parliament building after receiving a summons from the prosecutor's office. This moment was broadcast live on Viktor Urban's Facebook page, and Hanko was subsequently transferred to pre-trial detention.
Peter Magiar, in his speech in parliament, strongly criticized the corruption cases and, by comparison, asked Fidesz and KDNP representatives, "How many hundreds of thousands of phones must be thrown into the sea to approach the nearly trillions of euros stolen by the Fidesz-KDNP mafia?" He also criticized the leadership of the prosecutor's office, accusing them of colluding with Urban's system.
Magiar has officially emphasized the independence of the judiciary but has also expressed his criticisms regarding corruption in court management. These developments indicate that the new Hungarian government faces many challenges in combating corruption and rebuilding public trust.
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