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Hungary's governing party backs nominee for chief prosecutor

November 2, 2026 7:23 AM EST

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stands after delivering a speech to mark the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, in Budapest, Hungary, October 23, 2026. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

BUDAPEST, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Hungary's ‌governing Tisza ​party will ​approve the president's nominee for chief prosecutor, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Monday, a significant step in ‌Magyar's efforts to reshape public institutions after his April ⁠election victory.

Appointing a new chief prosecutor is central to Magyar's anti-corruption drive which ‌he has dubbed "Operation Purgatory".

Since taking ‌power in May, Magyar's centre-right Tisza party has removed several figures promoted by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban to key public ​positions, including the chief prosecutor, the head of the constitutional court, the head of the media authority, and Hungary's president.

Former ⁠chief prosecutor Gabor Balint Nagy submitted his resignation in July.

Magyar said in a Facebook post ​on Monday that his party's parliamentary group would approve President Andras Baka's new nominee for chief prosecutor, ​Peter Fejes.

Fejes, 66, retired last year after ‌a career spent entirely in the prosecution service. He specialises in criminal law, European Union law and ⁠sports law.

The chief prosecutor is elected to a nine-year term and requires the support of a two-thirds majority in parliament, a threshold Magyar's party ⁠can meet on its own.

Tisza had rejected Baka's first nominee for chief prosecutor.

Under ​Magyar, Hungary has also joined the European Public Prosecutor's Office and set up the National Asset Protection and Recovery Office to investigate alleged corruption during ‌Orban's 16-year rule, allegations the former prime minister has denied.

Magyar has said corruption, including misuse of public ‌funds, has cost Hungarians 8% to 10% of gross domestic product ⁠in recent years.

Two former ministers ‌from Orban's government ​and former central bank chief Gyorgy Matolcsy are currently under arrest over graft accusations.

(Reporting by Anita KomuvesEditing by ‌Gareth Jones)



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