Hungary’s incoming PM pledges to open communist-era police archives

Hungary’s incoming administration is set to open the historical archives of its communist-era secret police, a senior official in the new government told Reuters.

The move follows the parliamentary election victory of Peter Magyar, leader of the centre-right Tisza Party, who is expected to become prime minister on May 9. Magyar’s party defeated long-time leader Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party on April 12, campaigning on promises to steer the country back toward a pro-European course, revive the economy, and unlock billions of euros in frozen European Union funding.

Bálint Ruff, who has been nominated to head the prime minister’s office, said that opening the secret police archives would be his top priority.

“This is a task for historians, but I will be able to ensure that the next government provides a framework for this, that is, that it will provide the opportunity to research without political pressure,” Ruff told news outlet Valasz Online.

Unlike countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic, Hungary has never fully disclosed the identities of collaborators with its communist-era secret police. While some names have surfaced in the media over time, access to archival material remains limited—individuals can view their own files but not records concerning others, including informants.

Historian Krisztián Ungváry, a long-time advocate for transparency, warned in a 2023 lecture about the risks of restricted access, stating that “the past of public figures is not public, they will constantly be vulnerable to blackmail by those with access to information about their past”.

Ruff also outlined broader priorities for the incoming government, including the creation of a dedicated office to recover billions of forints lost to corruption. He added that he would oversee EU affairs, enabling Magyar to closely supervise efforts to secure the release of frozen EU funds.

By Sabina Mammadli