Hungary's reckoning with Orban's corrupt system begins

Key Points:

• Hungary's new government, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, launched "Operation Purgatory" in June 2026 to investigate corruption under Viktor Orban, aiming to recover embezzled assets and hold officials accountable.
• Despite initial promises, progress has been limited, with only minor fund cuts and a few arrests; however, two former ministers, Balazs Hanko and Miklos Sesztak, were recently arrested on corruption charges involving illegal party financing and bribery.
• Magyar's own parliamentary immunity was lifted voluntarily over a minor theft case as a symbolic gesture to demonstrate equal accountability, contrasting his actions with the large-scale corruption allegations against Orban's affiliates.
• The government faces internal disputes over the appointment of a new prosecutor general amid accusations that the current leadership has covered up corruption, complicating efforts to ensure judicial independence.
• Public demand for a swift reckoning with the Orban system is high, but experts caution that the process must be conducted with professionalism and respect for the rule of law to avoid turning "Operation Purgatory" into mere political spectacle.