Hungary is shifting from a free country into a socialist country, where everything is controlled by the state, in record time. No other EU country has this: an authority to take over private enterprises.
Meet the new “asset recovery authority”, now fully operational.
This is not an independent anti‑corruption body. It is political police set up by the new EPP government, led by PM Péter Magyar. The Authority has sweeping, unchecked powers:
👁️ Secret investigative powers: It can secretly investigate almost anyone who has ever had financial transactions involving public money: pensioners, families receiving childcare benefits, people with subsidised mortgages, even small firms that once did even a tiny contract with government.
💳 Impose a nanny on companies: It can literally take over the management of private companies. Or choose to "merely" access banking, tax and business secrets, and share them with other authorities. A total violation of private enterprise.
🗣️ Rat clause: it can force citizens to inform on others. If they refuse, fines go from 135,000 euros for individuals to 13,500,000 euros for organisations.
📆 Procedures may last 18 months, with very limited right of appeal.
Like in any authoritarian country, this is sold to the public as fight for transparency. In reality, it is to intimidate businesses. When it comes to free speech, self-censorship is cheaper than actual censorship.
Similarly, this is to intimidate businesses.
A body like this has no place in a democracy.