Hungary: New Prosecutor General Fejes Confirmed for Anti-Graft Drive

• Peter Fejes was elected as Hungary's new prosecutor general, signaling a renewed anti-corruption drive.
• Prime Minister Peter Magyar championed Fejes's appointment to pursue accountability for alleged corruption under former leader Viktor Orban.
• Fejes, a retired career prosecutor, has pledged to restore public trust by ensuring the prosecutor's office operates free from political influence.
• Several high-profile investigations are underway, including the arrests of three former ministers and a former central bank governor.
• The appointment follows a period of eroded public confidence in the prosecutor's office, which critics accused of shielding Orban's inner circle.

Peter Fejes has articulated a clear objective to rebuild public confidence in the prosecutor's office, emphasizing that legal work must be entirely independent of political influence.

Hungarian lawmakers recently confirmed Peter Fejes, a 65-year-old retired career prosecutor, as the nation's new prosecutor general. This appointment, made on Tuesday, is a central component of Prime Minister Peter Magyar's broader initiative to hold former nationalist leader Viktor Orban and his associates accountable for alleged corruption during their tenure. Fejes secured the position with 139 votes in favor and six against within the 199-member legislature, where Magyar's Tisza party commands a supermajority. Orban's Fidesz party and its ally, KDNP, chose to boycott the vote entirely.

Following his election, Fejes took an oath for a nine-year term, with Prime Minister Magyar publicly endorsing the move on Facebook, stating, "On behalf of all Hungarians, I wish you every success in your work. Tremble, burglars! And all other criminals too." This strong statement underscores the new government's commitment to an aggressive anti-corruption drive. Fejes himself has articulated a clear objective to rebuild public confidence in the prosecutor's office, emphasizing that legal work must be entirely independent of political influence. He also offered an apology in Parliament for "certain decisions taken by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in recent times — or its failure to act — which have justifiably and reasonably offended the public’s sense of justice."

The selection of Fejes comes amidst a period where public trust in Hungary's prosecutorial system significantly eroded, particularly during Orban's 16-year rule. Critics frequently accused the highly centralized institution of actively shielding the former premier's inner circle from proper scrutiny and investigation. This perception of political interference has fueled the current administration's push for reform and accountability, with investigations into high-level graft now gaining considerable momentum across the Central European nation.

Evidence of this intensified scrutiny is already apparent, with three former ministers currently in custody on corruption charges. Among them is a former central bank governor, whom Orban once famously referred to as his "right-hand" man. Last month, this ex-governor, Gyorgy Matolcsy, was arrested on charges of "economic fraud causing particularly significant financial loss," and an international arrest warrant has been issued for his son, Adam, who is suspected of being an accomplice. Additionally, two other former ministers have been detained since September, facing allegations of graft that reportedly led to millions of dollars in losses of public funds. Orban has dismissed these specific probes as "politically motivated" attempts to imprison him and dismantle his party.

The need for a politically independent prosecutor general was highlighted by recent controversies, including the rejection of President Andras Baka's initial nominee for the role last month. That nominee was withdrawn after reports surfaced linking his brother to the contentious "golden convoy" case. This incident, occurring before the April parliamentary election where Orban lost to Magyar, involved Hungarian security forces stopping vehicles belonging to a Ukrainian state-owned bank as they transited the country. Seven employees were detained, and millions in dollars, euros, and gold bars were seized. While Hungary's tax authority initially cited a money-laundering probe, the detainees were quickly released, and their assets returned, leading to the closure of the original case.

Despite the closure of the initial money-laundering investigation, a separate inquiry was launched into alleged rights violations during the "golden convoy" operation. In June, Pal Furcht, the lead prosecutor on this case, resigned, subsequently alleging that his superiors had obstructed his investigation and that evidence suggested Orban himself had ordered the operation. Lorant Horvath, a lawyer representing both Furcht and the detained bank employees, has expressed hope that Peter Fejes will now thoroughly examine the matter, stating that their primary concern is the prosecutor-general's office's active involvement in the operation. This incident, alongside the resignation of former top prosecutor Gabor Balint Nagy in July under pressure from Magyar, underscores the profound challenges and expectations facing the new prosecutor general as he embarks on his nine-year term.

Lawyers and compliance officers with clients operating in or dealing with Hungary should anticipate a heightened risk of anti-corruption enforcement and investigations under the new prosecutor general, Peter Fejes, and the Magyar government. This shift signals a more politically independent prosecutorial approach, potentially leading to increased scrutiny of past and present business dealings, especially those involving former government officials, and necessitating a review of compliance frameworks.

Source: Original reporting via Agence France-Presse