Hungary's new anti-corruption body takes on four cases from the Orbán era

The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office of Hungary (NVVH) has taken over four criminal cases related to possible corruption abuses, state investments, and spending by budgetary institutions into its own proceedings.

This was reported on September 28 by the Hungarian agency MTI, citing a statement from NVVH. From September 27, the new body has the right to take over already opened criminal cases into its proceedings.

The first investigation concerns possible trading in political influence during the processing of residence permits for employment. According to the prosecution, a group of people linked to high-ranking politicians may have accepted money to guarantee clients the receipt of necessary documents and used their connections to speed up procedures.

The second case relates to possible bribes in municipal procurement for park maintenance and public catering. The investigation is examining suspicions that companies may have paid politicians to retain favourable contracts.

The third proceeding is linked to a state company and state investment projects. According to NVVH, the version is being checked that an official responsible for the development and supervision of the Hungarian National Asset Management Fund may have received illegal benefits through intermediaries for concluding contracts. The amounts involved are several billion forints.

The fourth case concerns the former Sovereignty Protection Office. As Index writes, investigators will examine three framework agreements concluded in 2024-2026. Under these agreements, the agency paid a consortium more than 3.6 billion forints for communication materials and event organization. NVVH is checking whether these expenditures were justified and could have led to illegal enrichment of private individuals.

NVVH was created after the change of government in Hungary. Its task is defined as investigating corruption cases and recovering state assets. At the same time, the opposition parties Fidesz and KDNP challenged the law on the new body in the Constitutional Court, claiming that it violates several provisions of the Fundamental Law. The court has not yet given a final assessment of these claims.