The Government aims to launch a preventive attack against corruption, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Administration and Justice Tibor Navracsics said on Monday at an inter-institutional meeting held on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day.
The meeting, aimed at assessing and further improving anti-corruption measures, was attended by President of the State Audit Office László Domokos, Vice-President of the Curia István Kónya, Chief Prosecutor Péter Polt, and President of the National Judiciary Office Tünde Handó. With a view to better coordinating actions, all participants reported on the ways in which the institution they represent is taking part in measures to tackle corruption.
In addition to prevention, Minister Navracsics highlighted the importance of changes in legal regulations, measures within the public administration system and international cooperation. Among the legislative measures approved by the Government, he recalled the amendment to the Criminal Code, setting out stricter guidelines with regard to crimes of corruption and the approval of the Government’s preventive anti-corruption programme, the first government-level strategy and action plan for the prevention of corruption in public administration to have been adopted since the change of regime in Hungary. In 2010, furthermore, Hungary was among the first UN members to join the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).
The leaders of the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, the Curia, the National Office for the Judiciary, the Chief Prosecutor's Office and the State Audit Office have been cooperating closely in recent years to optimise anti-corruption measures. The organisations issued a joint declaration last year in which they undertook to achieve coordinated and effective action against corruption.
Since the signing of the declaration, the Government has implemented several concrete measures and legislative amendments in order to guarantee the accountable and responsible management of national assets, including the shortening of the period within which corruption suspects are sent to trial, the submission of a law protecting anonymous whistle-blowers and the adoption of a code of ethics for civil servants.
(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)
