The raids against the head of the anti-corruption service shook the Hungarian government
Police in Hungary raided the offices of the Integrity Authority, the state body that oversees the use of EU funds abroad.
The chief prosecutor has announced that his president, Ferenc Biro, is suspected of corruption and abuse of power.
The police also searched Bira’s home and took away the documents.
He admitted that he “lent his company car to his wife to go shopping”, but rejects the accusations and says he is being targeted for political reasons, “from the top”.
That statement itself caused astonishment in Hungary.
Ferenc Biro and his wife Judit are insiders in the leading ranks of the ruling Fidesz party, in excellent relations at the highest level. His position and salary are equal to a minister in the Government.
The integrity body was established in early 2023 to prove to the European Commission that EU funds are properly spent and audited. Its leaders were appointed by the president of the republic.
The Chief Prosecutor’s Office also charges him with obstructing the work of his two vice-presidents.
The accusations are shaking the government for three reasons.
They come only 10 days after Antal Rogan, the minister in charge of government communications and secret services in Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s cabinet, was put on the list of sanctions by the US Treasury Department as “the main architect, implementer and user of this system of corruption”.
The government sharply criticized the move as a “personal vendetta” by outgoing US ambassador David Pressman.
Another reason is that the opposition has long accused Chief Prosecutor Peter Polt of not investigating corruption in the ruling Fidesz party.
A third reason is that Hungary permanently lost €1bn (£845m) of EU funds on 31 December, and billions more are at risk if it fails to meet strict EU criteria for releasing funds that have already been suspended.
“Throughout my career, I have fought against corruption and fraud, and for ethics and integrity,” Biro wrote in his October 2022 presidential application letter.
According to a statement released by the chief prosecutor, in addition to the official vehicle, the Bureau also hired another luxury car, racking up a bill of 14 million Hungarian forints (€34,000; £29,000).
Hungarian media reports that his luxurious home was renovated with office funds, and a fence several hundred meters long was erected around it.
In the absence of EU funds, with the Hungarian currency losing value and annual inflation surging to 4.6% last month, the Hungarian economy is in trouble.
Critics of the government believe that Ferenc Biro may be right – that Viktor Orban is trying to sacrifice one of his chess pieces in order to get much-needed cash.
The bureau responded to the investigation in its own statement.
“Today they specifically attacked my person and with that they wanted to disable the work of the Integrity Directorate,” he said on Thursday evening.
“Our organization has always acted and continues to act according to the highest ethical and legal standards.”
