case 01
Summary
In retaliation for rural municipalities corruption investigation, the Hungarian Institute of Public Administration was first renamed during Ferenc Gyurcsány’s prime ministership and then dissolved immediately before Viktor Orbán’s second government.
01
What was uncovered
The legal framework governing local governments, particularly with regard to financial oversight, leaves much to be desired. Fixing the system would require a firm political commitment.
02
What wrongdoing occured
No formal violation occurred.
03
What consequences followed
Dr. Pinter has not received a research assignment or an invitation to speak on the topic of corruption in nineteen years.
04
What sources it is based on
The name change took place on 1 January 2007. However, the Government Centre for Human Resources Services and Public Administration Training published the final report, in light of the European Union funds used, under Government Resolution 2242/2006 (XII. 23.), which amended Government Resolution 2118/2006 (VI. 30.); the amended founding resolution, dated 8 April 2010, was signed by the Minister of Public Administration and Justice, acting under the authority vested by Section 88 (2) of Act XXXVIII of 1992 on the State Budget.
Whistleblowing timeline
THE WHISTLEBLOWER WAS APPROACHED AFTER EIGHT YEARS - IT WAS A MISTAKE
The Hungarian Institute of Public Administration was dissolved after the study.
Following the corruption scandal involving the Budapest municipal government, Dr. Pinter was commissioned to conduct a comprehensive audit of the capital’s entire system. The findings and recommendations were included in Transparency International’s First Report. Mayor Demszky and his team rejected the report, and Pinter’s reputation was ruined. Eight years later, he was first asked to investigate rural municipalities through in-depth personal interviews. His findings are included in the final report, which was published as a book. This time, it was not Pinter who was ruined, but the prominent research institute conducting the study that was dismantled by left-wing liberal forces.
timeline
- MAY 2005
Start of Hungarian rural municipalities corruption research.
- MARCH 2006
Finish of the research, financial settlement.
- JANUARY 2007
New name is: Government Centre for Human Resources Services and Public Administration Training
- MARCH 2007
The publication of the final research report in book form.
- MARCH 2010
The institute was dissolved immediately before Viktor Orbán’s second government.
The dissolution of this internationally renowned institute will undermine the prospects for local democracy in Hungary in the long term.
PART I – THE WHISTLEBLOWER
Dr. Pinter has deep knowledge on anti-corruption issues, expertise of investigation, international and inter cultural co-operation, compliance, anti-money laundering, and project management. He is familiar with strategic analyses and solutions, national and international legislations, NGO activities
PART Ii – WHO LOST WHAT AND WHO WON WHAT
The Hungarian Institute of Public Administration was dissolved after the study.
PART Iii – LIST OF AVAILABLE AND CANCELED RESOURCES
Corruption in Local Government Administration Based on Structured In-Depth Interviews In: Szente, Zoltán (ed.)
Corruption in Local Government Administration Budapest, Hungary: Government Personnel Services and Public Administration Training Center, ROP 3.1.1 Program Directorate (2007) 189 p. pp. 95–108, 14 p.