Hungarian child protection inquiry faces political divide

The Hungarian parliamentary investigative committee tasked with uncovering the systemic crisis in child protection has appointed sociologist Andrea Rácz as its expert. During its recent session, the committee also adopted recommendations regarding ethical guidelines for upcoming hearings, intended to protect the individuals being interviewed.

However, the committee is facing significant political friction regarding its scope. Representatives from Fidesz and KDNP have stated they will not support the summoning of former government politicians for questioning. They characterized such moves as ‘political witch hunts’ and ‘shows’ designed to use child protection as a political tool rather than focusing on professional improvements.

In contrast, members of the Tisza Party argued that the committee’s mandate is twofold: to identify systemic problems and to establish professional, moral, and political accountability. They emphasized that the goal is not to determine criminal liability—which remains the role of legal authorities—but to clarify how past decisions led to the current crisis and to identify those responsible for the systemic failures.