Parliament on Tuesday approved the bill establishing the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH), with MPs voting 143 in favour and 47 against. The agency’s task will be to protect public assets, uncover the unlawful management of public assets, and recover them.

The law’s explanatory memorandum says its aim is to create a legal framework that will enable the NVVH to carry out effectively the tasks needed to protect public assets, uncover the unlawful management of public assets, and recover them, the Hungarian news agency wrote.

The NVVH will be able to carry out public asset-protection risk assessments and inspections, and to order organisations to be placed under public asset-protection supervision.

Members of the Tisza parliamentary group happy with the decision. Photo: MTI

It will also have the right, in the course of its work, to enter premises, archives, warehouses, and server rooms linked to an investigation; inspect any relevant document, record, contract, or electronic data storage device; examine the payment accounts and financial assets of an organisation placed under supervision; exercise investigative and prosecutorial powers to recover and protect public assets; and request the assistance of the police, the prosecution service, the National Tax and Customs Administration, or other bodies.

The president and vice-presidents of the office will be elected by Parliament within 30 days of the law entering into force.

Europe’s strongest anti-graft institution is taking shape, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Tuesday, referring to the newly established National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH). In a video posted on social media, he stressed that the office will operate entirely independently of the government.

Parliament approved the law establishing the office on Tuesday with 143 votes in favour and 47 against.

Magyar hailed the vote as historic, calling it a major step forward for one of [ruling] Tisza’s most important initiatives.

“Despite falling-apart [opposition] Fidesz’s parliamentary group voting against the fight for transparency and the recovery of national assets, Tisza’s MPs secured the majority needed for this proposal,” he said. “Now is the time for a real reckoning to begin, for meaningful work to start, and for Europe’s most powerful anti-corruption body to finally take shape. We will provide all the necessary support to make this happen.”

The prime minister acknowledged that the public is eagerly awaiting the office’s swift and effective launch. “Hungarians rightfully expect this new anti-corruption body to handle every case with the utmost thoroughness and precision,” he added.

“Today’s law sets out our next steps,” Magyar explained. “The president and four deputy presidents of the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office must be appointed within 30 days. These positions must be filled by non-partisan, highly qualified professionals who will act in the spirit and letter of the law, serving the interests of the Hungarian people and the nation.”

Once the leadership takes office, the real work begins: recruiting investigators, financial analysts, tax experts, prosecutors, and legal specialists. “Their mission will be to uncover who stole billions of forints from the Hungarian people and how they did it,” he said.

Magyar emphasised that the NVVH will operate completely independently of the government, with the authority to initiate investigations, conduct inquiries, launch proceedings, and even prosecute cases, all strictly within the rule of law.

He condemned Fidesz for comparing the constitutionally established anti-corruption office to the AVH, the infamous secret police of Hungary’s communist era. “The AVH was a political tool of the Communist Party that tormented thousands of Hungarians,” Magyar said. “By making this vile comparison, Fidesz has dishonoured their memory.”

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The prime minister reiterated that the new office was created based on the will of Hungarian voters, in full compliance with the Fundamental Law and all relevant regulations. “The goal of this new office is not political retribution or settling scores,” he said. “It is about recovering embezzled public funds and exposing serious corruption cases. But its mission goes beyond just reclaiming stolen assets or correcting past wrongs — it’s also about building a cleaner future.”

“The NVVH will play a key role in this work,” Magyar concluded. “But creating a transparent, corruption-free public life in Hungary is not the responsibility of this super-agency alone. It is up to all of us, every single day.”

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