Hungary begins hunt for corrupt regime's billions

Hungary's new government aims to recover billions of euros allegedly misused by former leader Viktor Orban and his associates, according to officials. Peter Magyar, the new prime minister, and his Tisza party want to retrieve funds for state use and prosecute beneficiaries for their wrongdoing. Estimates of the total amount stolen range from €60 billion ($70 billion) to potentially three times that amount.

Critics allege that Orban-affiliated individuals lived opulent lifestyles while Hungarians faced poverty, poor public services, and a budget deficit. In response, the government established the National Asset Recovery Authority (NVVH) in July, a powerful new institution with broad investigative and prosecutorial authority. NVVH will scrutinize how public funds were diverted and assets like real estate were used, focusing primarily on Orban's tenure.

The NVH has both policing and prosecutorial powers, and is accountable to Hungary's parliament. However, the selection of Anna Unger as the NVVH's head has raised questions, as she is not a recognized expert on corruption and lacks legal credentials. Unger has stated that major corruption cases may not result in legally binding verdicts during the NVVH's six-year term, which some critics view as disappointing.