Hungarian government unveils compensation fund and reforms after Bicske abuse scandal

A new investigation found the former director of the Bicske children’s home likely abused many more children than previously known. The government responded with a compensation fund and sweeping reforms.

A comprehensive probe into the Zsuzsa Kossuth Children’s Home in Bicske, led by State Secretary Szilvia Gyurkó, examined the period from 2015 to 2025 and uncovered evidence that the former director, János Vásárhelyi, likely abused many more children than the handful who came forward. The investigation, which reviewed staff testimonies and more than 7,000 pages of records, also highlighted that the director had been dismissed from a prior job in the 1990s over abuse suspicions.

In response, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced a one-billion-forint compensation fund for victims of residential child-welfare placements after the 1997 Child Protection Act, offering legal, psychological and housing assistance. He outlined reforms including anonymous reporting channels, surprise inspections, compulsory independent inquiries for serious cases, and the creation of a mobile team of specialists. Magyar placed responsibility on former Interior Minister Sándor Pintér, former State Secretary for Social Affairs Attila Fülöp and Viktor Orbán, noting that the director’s long tenure was enabled by officials’ awareness.

The scandal follows a 2024 clemency controversy that forced the resignations of President Katalin Novák and former Justice Minister Judit Varga. A broader government report warned that Hungary’s child-protection system is on the brink of collapse, prompting a 9.5-billion-forint allocation for urgent reforms.