The new authorities in Hungary have launched a large-scale anti-corruption campaign called 'Cleansing Fire,' aimed at completely dismantling the political and corrupt system created by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. According to the influential Financial Times, the ex-prime minister could become one of the first high-profile figures to face official charges. The criminal case against Orbán is already nearing the final stages of preparation.
The Essence of the 'Gold Convoy' Scandal
The investigation centers on a high-profile incident that took place in March of this year. At that time, Hungary's elite counter-terrorism unit (TEK) heavily intercepted armored vehicles belonging to Ukraine's Oschadbank, which were transporting cash and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Kyiv. Viktor Orbán publicly accused Ukraine of secretly funding the Hungarian opposition ahead of the elections; however, the cash collectors were released the very next day, and the confiscated assets were returned to Ukraine following Orbán's defeat in the elections.
Evidence and Witness Testimonies
Law enforcement agencies possess a robust evidentiary base, including testimonies from former prosecutor Pál Fürcht, who handled the March cases. According to him, Viktor Orbán personally ordered the security services to detain the Ukrainian couriers. This fact is also supported by a June prosecutor's office report and statements from TEK chief János Hajdu, who has already been charged with illegal detention and abuse of power.
Political Context and the New Leadership's Response
New Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar described Orbán's former cabinet as a political and economic mafia and stressed the necessity of uncompromised anti-corruption investigations. In addition to the cash collectors' case, law enforcement is probing associates of the ex-prime minister, including former central bank governor György Matolcsy and his relatives involved in financial misconduct.
