Hungary launches rapid purge of Orbán-era corruption to unlock EU funds

Prime Minister Péter Magyar, leading a new coalition with an overwhelming parliamentary majority, has announced a summer‑long program to remove officials, judges and state‑owned enterprises linked to former leader Viktor Orbán. The reforms aim to restore the rule of law and meet conditions for releasing hundreds of billions of euros in frozen EU assistance.

Human‑rights lawyer Márta Pardavi warned that the process must be swift and legally sound, noting the urgency for many Hungarians facing economic hardship. The government has already proposed constitutional changes and is meeting with foreign ministers from Sweden and the Netherlands, who expressed support for Hungary’s EU‑re‑integration efforts.

The overhaul includes replacing senior civil servants, restructuring the judiciary and tackling entrenched patronage networks, while balancing the need for transparent, accountable reforms.