Hungary’s parliament votes to elect new prosecutor-general amid anti-graft drive

BUDAPEST: Hungarian parliamentarians are scheduled to vote on Tuesday, electing a new prosecutor-general in an effort to hold nationalistic former ruler Viktor Orban and his associates accountable for alleged corruption. This move is part of Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Tisza party's anti-graft campaign, which now enjoys control over more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats.

Three former ministers, including a former central bank governor, are currently under arrest amid the investigation into high-level graft accusations that have intensified in the Central European nation. President Andras Baka nominated career prosecutor and former regional chief prosecutor Peter Fejes for the top post.

Fejes, now 65, aims to restore public confidence in the prosecution service, which eroded during Orban's 16-year rule. Critics accused the centralized institution of shielding the premier's inner circle from legal scrutiny. He emphasized that the focus must be on professionalism, timeliness, and being free from politics.

Fejes' nomination comes after Hungary's security forces detained seven employees of a Ukrainian state-owned bank during a money-laundering probe in April. The case was eventually closed, but a separate inquiry was launched into alleged rights violations during the operation. In June, the lead prosecutor investigating that case, Pal Furcht, stepped down, alleging obstruction and evidence pointing to Orban's involvement.

Lawyer Lorant Horvath, representing Furcht and the detainees, expressed hope that Fejes would probe the matter. Former top prosecutor Gabor Balint Nagy resigned in July, citing pressure from Magyar, who was elected on promises of regime change and has pushed to remove top officials appointed under Orban. Other investigations have gained momentum, with ex-central bank governor Gyorgy Matolcsy arrested for economic fraud and an international arrest warrant issued against his son. Two other former ministers are in custody over alleged graft.