Citing national criminal statistics, Tibor Ibolya said that the number of graft cases exposed last year was 3,269, up from 1,105 in 2013, adding that data suggest a similar increase in Budapest.

What explains the increase is that authorities were more efficient in exposing cases, which then appear in criminal statistics, he said, cautioning however that these figures do not reveal the actual level of corruption.

Ibolya said he saw Hungary’s corruption indices showing no big difference when compared with those of other countries with a similar economic and political system in the region.

Corruption “practices” have changed, Ibolya said, noting that new methods include covering up illegal money movements with rather complicated contracts involving on occasions foreign companies.

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