Hungarian news website 444 reported that the summary, explanatory notes, impact assessments and full text are available on the government webpage linked in its article. Comments can be submitted until 12 November.
A wider role for public-space wardens
According to a Facebook statement by Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai, the package would reshape police duties, service conditions for law enforcement personnel and the operation of Hungary’s disaster management system.
The armed forces could take over some facility protection duties to reduce the police workload. Special border patrol officers, known in Hungarian as határvadászok, could assist with traffic and public-space duties, as well as guarding police detention facilities. Public-space wardens could also be assigned a broader range of law enforcement tasks.
The package also has a municipal dimension. It would strengthen cooperation between local authorities in law enforcement, although the 444 article does not specify what organisational changes this might bring in individual municipalities or Budapest districts.
Faster proceedings and longer retention of footage
Under the proposal, a person identified within 48 hours of an offence in certain traffic cases could be brought before a court in expedited proceedings if the alleged act is punishable by detention.
The rules for footage recorded during police operations would also change. Recordings would have to be retained for 60 days instead of the current 30.
Law enforcement personnel working overtime could choose between financial compensation and time off. The basic annual leave allowance for law enforcement administrative employees would rise from 20 to 25 days, while sick pay for the first 15 days would increase to 100 per cent.
Changes to disaster management
The number of management levels in the fire service would be reduced. The proposal would give a greater role to public preparedness, digital alerts and volunteer rescue organisations.
Fire safety authority functions would be moved back into the Országos Tűzoltó és Polgári Védelmi Parancsnokság, the National Fire and Civil Protection Command. Pósfai wrote that the organisation would once again be referred to as the fire service rather than disaster management.
Another provision would phase out the guest investor visa and residence permit from 1 January 2027. Existing permits could not be renewed.
The public consultation closes on 12 November. The documents and the consultation platform are available through the government webpage cited by 444.
Source: 444
