Magyar announces start of 'Purgatory' operation against Orban cabinet corruption

The new Hungarian government has launched an operation in the country to combat corruption, named 'Purgatory' and aimed against abuses by the previous cabinet headed by Viktor Orban.

This was announced by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who reported the introduction of a bill in parliament to create the National Directorate for the Recovery and Protection of Assets.

According to the head of government, the new state agency will investigate possible financial abuses and corruption crimes by previous authorities. "We will rid our country of the economic and political mafia," Magyar said, speaking before deputies. Comparing the previous order in the country with the actions of the Italian 'Cosa Nostra,' he announced the start of the anti-corruption operation 'Purgatory.'

"This operation will become a comprehensive political, economic and legal action, the goal of which is to free Hungary and the functioning of the state from the widespread corruption and mafia that have been strangling our country. One of the most important elements of this will be the National Directorate for the Recovery and Protection of Assets," the prime minister clarified, claiming that members of Orban's government, their relatives and closest friends profited from state contracts, subsidies and the use of public funds.

It is assumed that the new directorate will be an independent agency accountable only to parliament. It will also monitor the public procurement system, concession contracts, the transfer of state property to investment funds, state investments, the use of European Union funds, as well as financial transactions that raise suspicions of damage to state interests.

The document will surely be approved by the deputies. The Tisa party led by Magyar holds more than two-thirds of the seats in parliament. Immediately after the victory in the elections on April 12, he announced plans to establish a structure that would investigate possible corruption crimes by Orban's government. According to Magyar, this agency "will employ the best lawyers and investigators who will achieve success."

Source: TASS