Hungary's 'Tisztítótűz' anti‑corruption probe targets Mészáros Lőrinc hotels

On June 22, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced the "Tisztítótűz" operation – a comprehensive anti‑corruption drive that will create a National Asset Recovery and Defence Office and amend 47 laws. A major focus is the Kisfaludy tourism‑development programme, where more than 700 applications received state funding; the largest beneficiaries were hotels linked to businessman Mészáros Lőrinc, such as the Balaland Hotel in Szántód and the Grand Hotel Tokaj, each granted roughly 2.9 billion forints for renovations.

Commentator Hajós András warned that the investigation could extend to senior officials and even Orbán family members, questioning how much of the alleged recovered wealth remains hidden abroad in locations like Switzerland or Dubai, and stressed the need for thorough accountability.