New agency to hunt Orbán's corruption money

 

TT

 

Published 15.44

 

Peter Magyars has been prime minister in Hungary for almost four months. Archive photo. Photo: Omar Havana/AP/TT

A new anti-corruption agency has been established in Hungary. It will return money that was embezzled and prosecute those responsible for the corruption of the previous Hungarian government, reports the German public service channel Deutsche Welle.

Hungary's new government, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, estimates that between eight and ten percent of the country's GDP has been embezzled in recent years.

According to Tisza leader Magyar, this amounts to at least 60 billion euros, equivalent to 660 billion kronor, which disappeared during Viktor Orbán's previous rule.

The new agency will identify, track and restore assets that were criminally taken from the public's assets, the government announced this summer when the law on the new agency was passed, writes Reuters.

A successful anti-corruption drive could speed up Hungary's access to blocked EU funds.

The agency will be led by political scientist Anna Unger and several prosecutors.