Hungary opens probe into wealth amassed during Orbán era

Hungary’s new government has launched a formal investigation into the fortunes accumulated during the years of Viktor Orban’s rule, aiming to recover assets that investigators say ended up with the former leader’s family, political allies, oligarchs or apparent front companies.

Action plan and figures

Prime Minister Peter Magyar and his Tisa party have declared they will move to return such funds and property to the state and to pursue legal accountability for those who benefited. Magyar has estimated the amount at around 60 billion euros, while other assessments put the total at up to three times that figure.

The new administration says institutional steps are already underway to trace transfers and identify networks used to channel public resources into private hands. Officials describe the effort as both a recovery operation and a legal purge of corrupt practices linked to the previous era.

Observers say the scale of the task is large: tracing ownership structures, challenging transactions in national and foreign courts, and negotiating asset freezes or restitutions where evidence supports state claims. The government has not published a full public inventory of targeted assets.

The campaign follows the removal from power of Viktor Orban and comes amid debate over how to balance fast recovery with respect for legal safeguards and property rights. Officials insist that measures will proceed through courts and established institutions.

Authorities gave an initial public outline of their intentions on 6 September 2026; details of specific cases and timelines for recoveries are expected as probes progress.

Photo: press material from the event