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Misconduct 💸

Government Widens Contract Probes, New Graft Claims Emerge

The Tisza government has initiated a broad review of all state contracts with private equity funds from the previous Orbán administration, signalling a deeper dive into past dealings than previously announced. This move comes as new allegations of misconduct surface, including claims that the government sold more state-owned properties in Budapest than publicly known and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the previous administration was aware of significantly inflated prices for COVID-19 tests but took no action.

Concurrently, the Hungarian parliament has commenced its session with discussions on implementing county-level administrative divisions, replacing the current governorate system. A debate concerning Prime Minister Péter Magyar's salary is also on the agenda. Separately, public universities are demanding compensation for past years in addition to their promised salary increases, highlighting ongoing economic pressures. Internationally, former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has commented on the AfD's recent electoral victory in Germany.

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Tisza Government Initiates Broad Review of Orbán-Era Private Equity Contracts

The Tisza government has announced a comprehensive review of all contracts between the Hungarian state and private equity fund companies, potentially impacting multi-trillion forint agreements, including the 35-year highway concession. This expands on earlier pledges to dismantle specific concessions and aims to scrutinize past dealings from the Orbán era.

New Allegations of Undisclosed Property Sales and Inflated COVID Test Prices

New reports indicate that the previous Orbán government intended to sell more state-owned properties in Budapest than publicly revealed, including those not put up for auction. Separately, an internal memo allegedly shows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under former Minister Péter Szijjártó was aware of companies selling COVID-19 testing equipment at triple the price, with markups exceeding 30%, yet no action was taken.

Parliament Debates Administrative Reforms and Prime Minister's Salary

The Hungarian parliament has begun its session with discussions on transitioning from governorates back to county-level administrative divisions. Concurrently, a debate is scheduled concerning the salary of Prime Minister Péter Magyar. The new Tisza government is also facing economic realities, with analysis suggesting only smaller election promises will be fulfilled this year, potentially conflicting with EU accession goals.

Updates on Former Officials and Business Figures

Péter Polt, former President of the Constitutional Court, has submitted his final wealth declaration as his term recently ended due to a new age limit. Separately, former Hungarian National Bank Governor György Matolcsy and current Governor Mihály Varga were seen traveling together on a flight to Zurich. Additionally, Balasy Gyula, a businessman linked to the previous administration, reportedly attempted to establish a foothold in Dubai.

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