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Hungary: communist-era files released, up to 60,000 former agents revealed

Euronews.com • November 4, 2026 • world

Key Points:

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar passed a bill in September granting unrestricted public access to communist-era secret service archives, ending decades of restricted disclosure criticized for shielding public figures across the political spectrum.
The newly accessible records include registration sheets, recruitment registers, and databases of agents' personal data and code names, revealing an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 agent identities out of approximately 150,000 employed during the communist era.
The government has launched hotlines to provide emotional support to those affected by the revelations, acknowledging the potential personal and familial distress caused by the disclosures.
Historians caution that the archives are incomplete and not always reliable, emphasizing that being listed as an informant does not necessarily imply wrongdoing, as some recruited individuals resisted or subverted the regime.
The release represents a significant step toward transparency over Hungary's communist past, addressing long-standing political and public debates about the secret police's extensive surveillance network.

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