Hungary returns state assets and ramps up police patrols in Budapest

Justice Minister Márta Görög announced reforms to the public‑asset foundation system (KEKVA), stating that only assets originally owned by the state will be returned. Foundations that hold non‑state contributions will transfer those parts back to the original owners, while the remaining state‑owned assets will stay under state control. The changes will be applied to non‑university foundations by 31 August and to university‑linked foundations by 1 August 2027, with stricter transparency rules taking effect from 2026.

At the same time, the government ordered a 30‑day deployment of additional police officers to busy areas of Budapest to improve public safety. The operation, coordinated with district authorities, has resulted in over 3,600 police actions, 97 arrests for offenses such as theft and drug‑related crimes, and fines exceeding 1.5 million forints.