Mátyás responded to Orbán's remarks about the Hungarian anti-corruption agency
Peter Magyar criticized Viktor Orbán’s statements regarding Hungary’s new anti-corruption agency. The current prime minister stated that Orbán’s remarks could be construed as “violence against a public servant.”
Orbán’s statement concerned the National Office for Asset Recovery and Protection (NVVH), whose mission is to track down and recover illegally appropriated state assets.
Orbán, who has led the opposition since his Fidesz party’s defeat in April, intensified his attacks on the agency during a television interview on Sunday.
He described the NVVH as an “ÁVH-type institution”—referring to the notorious Hungarian secret police of the communist era—and called it a tool of an “aggressive, neo-communist government.”
The former prime minister stated that if Fidesz returns to power, agency employees could face legal and financial consequences regardless of their position.
He also noted that Fidesz would publicize the names of those working at the agency and track the cases in which they had participated.
“We must say this in advance, calmly and honestly: tyranny cannot be tolerated,” Orbán said, adding that employees would not be able to avoid personal accountability.
In response, Hungary’s current Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated in parliament on Tuesday that Orbán’s remarks could be construed as “violence against a public servant” — a crime punishable by imprisonment under Hungarian law.
Mátyás called it “unprecedented” that a former head of government would threaten investigators, police officers, and prosecutors for carrying out lawful procedures.
Addressing Fidesz lawmakers, he stated that investigations would be conducted “against you, your oligarchs, criminals, and mafia figures.”
Source: Euractiv
Hungary has officially established the National Asset Recovery Agency, which will be responsible for tracing and recovering public funds that were illegally misappropriated in previous years. The new agency is one of the key anti-corruption reforms of Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government following its victory in the parliamentary elections.
Hungary’s Prosecutor General Gábor Balint Nád has submitted his resignation. He had assumed the position under the previous administration, and the new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, had demanded his dismissal.
As a reminder, Hungary will remain without a president.
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