Crime in Hungary

The rule of law reforms, coupled with a recent legislative initiative to silence remaining critics, reveal the government’s commitment to protect the status quo.

"[2] In 2021, a European Commission report expressed frustration at Hungary's lack of progress in fighting corruption: "Risks of clientelism, favouritism and nepotism in high-level public administration, as well as risks arising from the link between businesses and political actors, remain unaddressed.

"[3] In 2019, Freedom House downgraded Hungary's status from Free to Partly Free "due to sustained attacks on the country's democratic institutions by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party, which has used its parliamentary supermajority to impose restrictions on or assert control over the opposition, the media, religious groups, academia, NGOs, the courts, asylum seekers, and the private sector since 2010".

[10] Jozsef Hatala of the National Police (ORFK) stated in 2011 that the criminal underworld is strongest in Budapest and its surrounding counties.

[13] In 2016, northern Hungary had the highest number of registered perpetrators of crime per 100,000 inhabitants and Western Transdanubia the lowest.