Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar says his government is pursuing former officials he accuses of corruption and abuses of power, less than six months after his landslide election win ended Viktor Orban's 16 years in power, the Associated Press reported.

In his first interview with a global news organisation since taking office, Magyar, 45, told AP on Tuesday that efforts to recover assets allegedly misused under his predecessor were under way, but insisted the push for accountability must follow the rule of law, which he said Orban's government often flouted. The allegations against former officials are Magyar's accusations; Orban's side has previously denied institutionalised corruption.

"The Hungarian people obviously want to see results in holding those responsible accountable, punishing them and recovering stolen property," Magyar told AP from his Budapest office.

Magyar said Hungarians had seen their country go from a high achiever when it joined the European Union in 2004 to, in his words, one of the poorest and most corrupt member states in Europe during Orban's rule, AP reported.

Pro-European, but hard line on migration

Magyar's centre-right, pro-European Tisza party defeated Orban's Fidesz in April. AP reported that concerns over corruption and democratic backsliding under Orban prompted the EU to begin withholding billions in funding to Hungary in 2021. Despite his pro-European platform, Magyar held firm on migration, AP reported, maintaining his government's hard line.