Hungary’s Parliament elected Péter Fejes as prosecutor general on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government seeks accountability for suspected corruption involving former prime minister Viktor Orbán and people close to him. Fejes, 65, received 139 votes in favour and six against in a secret ballot. Orbán’s Fidesz party and its ally, KDNP, boycotted the vote. Fejes was sworn in for a nine-year term.
The appointment comes as confidence in Hungary’s prosecution service has weakened after Orbán’s 16 years in power. Critics have accused the highly centralised institution of shielding the former prime minister’s inner circle from scrutiny. Fejes told conservative outlet Valasz Online that he would prioritise professionalism, speed and political independence, and said he was willing to reopen closed cases. In Parliament, he apologised for recent prosecutorial decisions or inaction that had, he said, understandably offended the public’s sense of justice.
The previous prosecutor general, Gabor Balint Nagy, resigned in July following pressure from Magyar and amid controversy over the so-called Ukrainian “gold convoy” case. In March, Hungarian authorities intercepted armoured vehicles belonging to Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank as they crossed Hungary. Seven bank employees were detained, and millions of dollars and euros, along with gold bars, were seized. The case was later closed without charges; those detained were released and the seized money and gold returned. An investigation is still under way. The prosecutor in charge, Pal Furcht, resigned in June after saying evidence pointed to direct involvement by Orbán.
A previous candidate for prosecutor general was dropped last month after suspicions emerged concerning his brother in connection with the convoy case. Meanwhile, other investigations involving figures from the former government are under way. Gyorgy Matolcsy, economy minister from 2010 to 2013 and later central bank governor, was arrested last month on suspicion of serious economic fraud. An international arrest warrant has also been issued for his son, Adam Matolcsy. Two other former ministers have been detained since September. Former culture minister Balazs Hanko is accused of diverting more than €40 million in public funds to Orbán’s election campaign.
Orbán, who led Hungary from 2010 to 2026, has described the proceedings as politically motivated and intended to target him and destroy his party. Anna Unger, head of the new anti-corruption agency NVVH, has warned that any convictions could take years. A government website lists more than 60 cases referred to investigators, involving billions of euros in public money.
Sources: Le Monde International.