Hungary to bar ministers and officials from leadership roles in sports bodies

At a government briefing, Prime Minister Magyar Péter unveiled a proposal to introduce strict conflict-of-interest rules for the sport sector. The legislation, awaiting parliamentary approval, would bar ministers, state secretaries, government and party officials, as well as leaders of majority-state enterprises, from holding president, vice-president or board seats in sports federations or clubs employing more than 500 athletes.

Resignation does not circumvent the rule, because the incompatibility extends for four years after the political post ends, and affected officials must file a declaration within 30 days of the law’s entry into force. Officials say the law aims to curb the politicisation of sport, which they claim has become a tool for the ruling party’s patronage. The proposal follows earlier remarks by State Secretary for Sport Kálnoki-Kiss Attila about a self-cleaning process after the parliamentary election. Critics view it as a move to limit Fidesz-aligned influence in sports administration.