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Budapest: Hungarian lawmakers on Tuesday approved anti-corruption measures, part of new Prime Minister Peter Magyar's sweeping reform drive and aimed at helping the country get billions of euros in withheld European Union funds.
The EU announced late last month it would unlock more than 16 billion euros ($18 billion) for Hungary that had been frozen over rule-of-law concerns during nationalist Viktor Orban's rule, if Budapest stays on track with a major reform push.
The anti-graft legislation easily passed parliament with 142 votes for, 39 against and three abstentions.
Magyar's party holds more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats, enabling it to change key laws and amend the constitution without opposition support.
ProEU conservative Magyar ousted Orban from office after 16 years in power in an April election on a promise of "regime change".
