University chancellor alleges threats over government business ties
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The chancellor of the University of Szeged, Judit Fendler, has accused the government of applying political pressure after she refused to deal with companies linked to the ruling party. Fendler claims she was summoned to a ministry meeting by István Kubatov following the refusal, where she was met with threats. Similar accounts of pressure have emerged involving Győző Orbán and Erik Bánki.
Internal disputes have also reached the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, where the former head, László Parragh, informed nearly 200 recipients that his successor is a "white-collar criminal." Parragh’s letter suggested the chamber has been taken over by an incompetent group. Elsewhere, the head of the National Water Directorate has resigned, and public records show that the columnist Zsolt Bayer has accumulated millions in public debt despite his frequent public claims of being a diligent taxpayer.
The national holiday on October 23rd is expected to include a full day of events attended by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. In more local friction, Ágnes Forsthoffer has denied claims by Balázs Németh that she was taking instructions from Péter Magyar, choosing instead to criticize Németh’s gambling habits and his use of cameras in the parliamentary chamber.