💥🇪🇺 Hungary is in uncharted waters after Viktor Orbán's prosecutors raided the office of an EU Commission-backed anti-corruption authority yesterday—but the situation is more complex than it might seem. Let me explain in this thread.👇1/16 - ThreadSky

szabolcspanyi.bsky.social • 43 days ago

💥🇪🇺 Hungary is in uncharted waters after Viktor Orbán's prosecutors raided the office of an EU Commission-backed anti-corruption authority yesterday—but the situation is more complex than it might seem.

Let me explain in this thread.👇1/16

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szabolcspanyi.bsky.social•43 days ago

On Thursday, Hungarian prosecutors raided the EU Commission-initiated Integrity Authority (IA) in Hungary, seizing documents related to the IA's investigations into EU fraud cases. IA head Ferenc Biró, suspected of corruption by prosecutors, revealed this at a press conference on Friday. 2/16

szabolcspanyi.bsky.social•43 days ago

The IA was established under the rule of law conditionality mechanism launched by the first Von der Leyen Commission, pressuring PM Orbán’s government to create an anti-corruption body to oversee EU fund spending after years of corruption allegations. Orbán agreed to establish the IA solely... 3/16

szabolcspanyi.bsky.social•43 days ago

....because it was a prerequisite for unblocking billions in EU funds frozen under the conditionality mechanism. However, the IA lacks real powers to prosecute, conduct searches, or act independently, as it is embedded within the Orbán-controlled Hungarian state apparatus. To illustrate: ... 4/16

szabolcspanyi.bsky.social•43 days ago

...relying on the IA is akin to the police asking thieves to establish an anti-theft unit overseen by the thieves themselves. IA's staffing process requires national security screening by agencies under Orbán’s top minister, Antal Rogán—who is under US Global Magnitsky sanctions for corruption. 5/16

szabolcspanyi.bsky.social•43 days ago

Instead, the Commission should have demanded that Hungary join the EU Prosecutor's Office, sought ways to strengthen the powers of the EU anti-fraud office (OLAF), or—most effectively—pushed for a reform of the Hungarian prosecutor's office, ensuring through robust guarantees... 6/16

szabolcspanyi.bsky.social•43 days ago

...that it is not led by an infamous Orbán ally who routinely shuts down corruption cases involving the Prime Minister's family and associates.

Yesterday, Hungarian prosecutors raided the IA's office and the home of Ferenc Biró, charging him and his wife with corruption and abuse of office. 7/16

kalmantibs.bsky.social•43 days ago

💯🏆👏🏼

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