In a video posted on Facebook on Friday, Magyar said the new authority should be openly scrutinised and held accountable for its performance. However, he argued that politically motivated efforts to weaken or discredit its work would ultimately harm the country.

His remarks followed Parliament’s election of Anna Unger as president of the NVVH and Katalin Tasnádi as deputy president responsible for investigations.

Magyar Says the Authority Should Be Judged by Results

Addressing supporters of the governing Tisza Party, Magyar described criticism of MPs and government officials over the appointments as unfair.

He said supporters of political change should judge the authority’s leadership according to its future work and results rather than the parliamentary decision itself. Magyar also maintained that the selection process had been professional and transparent.

The prime minister said he had recently spoken by telephone with Miklós Ligeti, legal director of Transparency International Hungary, who had also been considered for the position.

Magyar additionally urged public figures, including former MPs and former government officials, to reconsider their criticism of the new authority.

He warned that people attempting to hinder those responsible for recovering public assets could later face questions about whose interests they were serving.

Focus on Major Economic Crime Cases

Magyar described Katalin Tasnádi as one of Hungary’s most experienced prosecutors and said she would be tasked with investigating what he characterised as some of the country’s largest economic crimes.

He also called for criminal proceedings to be completed more quickly, arguing that investigations, prosecutions and court cases should not take five to ten years.

According to Magyar, the government is prepared to introduce any necessary legislative changes to Parliament in order to accelerate criminal proceedings.

The NVVH is expected to play an important role in one of the Tisza Party’s major political commitments: recovering public assets that the government alleges were improperly acquired and seeking accountability for those responsible.

NVVH Leaders to Receive Police Protection

Magyar also highlighted the potential risks involved in investigating organised economic crime.

He said tackling and investigating what he described as “mafia” structures can be extremely dangerous and confirmed that the leaders of the new authority would receive 24-hour personal protection from Hungarian police.

Magyar Criticises Fidesz Comparison With ÁVH

The prime minister also criticised opposition party Fidesz for comparing the NVVH with the ÁVH, Hungary’s former communist-era State Protection Authority.

Magyar called the comparison unacceptable and said it was an insult to the victims of the ÁVH and to the legacy of Hungary’s 1956 revolution.

He accused Fidesz of using political attacks against the new authority and its leadership and criticised what he described as the party’s record over the past 16 years.

Magyar urged the public not to be influenced by what he called personal or provocative attacks. Instead, he called on Hungarians to support those involved in recovering public assets.

‘Now Something Will Happen’

At the end of his video, Magyar wished the authority’s current and future employees success and encouraged them to work independently and courageously.

He expressed hope that the new authority would deliver tangible results and that, in the future, Hungarians would no longer feel that important cases and investigations simply lead nowhere.