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Hungary Passes Expanded Anti‑Corruption Law

Brussels must now verify whether Hungary’s new measures meet EU conditions before about €16 billion in frozen payments can be released.

Overview

  • Hungarian lawmakers approved the bill by a large majority on Tuesday, with 142 votes for, 39 against and 3 abstentions.
  • The law widens the mandate of the national anti‑corruption authority so it can check politicians’ asset declarations, ask courts to continue investigations and pause public procurement to protect EU funds.
  • It tightens penalties for deliberate non‑disclosure in annual asset filings by politicians so false or missing declarations become punishable offenses.
  • The legislation allows the state to seek dissolution of certain non‑profit asset‑management foundations that received transfers under Viktor Orbán’s government and to try to reclaim assets estimated at about €8.5 billion.
  • Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s two‑thirds Tisza Party majority pushed the measures as part of a campaign promise to restore ties with the EU and unlock roughly €16 billion in withheld funds, but the European Commission must still verify implementation and effective enforcement before any payments are unblocked.