Former central bank chief Matolcsy taken into custody amid anti-corruption push

The Central Investigation Agency detained former Magyar Nemzeti Bank president Matolcsy György, marking a symbolic win for anti-corruption campaigner Magyar Péter. Matolcsy, a longtime confidant of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has become the highest-profile figure currently under investigation, surpassing earlier detentions of ex-ministers Hankó Balázs and Seszták Miklós. The case is seen as part of a broader acceleration of legal action since mid-April, intended to show the government’s commitment to tackling abuse of power and to satisfy the European Commission’s requirement to recover misappropriated assets.

While the State Audit Office initially raised allegations, progress had been slow under the previous system. Officials suggest the detention signals a shift toward more active prosecution of senior officials.