9 hrs ago
Hungary Probes Former Minister Over Costly Private Flights
Hungary is investigating how a former foreign minister and his team traveled for work.
The current foreign minister, Anita Orban, filed a criminal complaint against Peter Szijjarto and his team.
She said they often used private chartered planes or military aircraft instead of regular flights.
According to her, this happened from 2022 onward.
She said the trips cost almost six times more than scheduled business-class flights.
The extra cost was estimated at about 4 billion forints, or $12.6 million.
Anita Orban said this could mean government money was poorly managed.
Viktor Orban rejected the corruption allegations.
His spokesman said the flights followed the relevant government decree.
Foreign Minister Anita Orban filed a criminal complaint against former minister Peter Szijjarto and his team.
She alleged that private chartered and military flights replaced scheduled flights from 2022 onward.
The trips allegedly cost nearly six times as much as scheduled business-class travel.
The reported additional cost was about 4 billion forints, or $12.6 million.
Viktor Orban rejected corruption allegations, while his spokesman defended the travel as compliant with government rules.
- Who
- Foreign Minister Anita Orban filed a complaint against former Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and his team; Viktor Orban and spokesman Bertalan Havasi rejected or defended the allegations.
- What
- Hungary is investigating alleged mismanagement of public funds linked to the use of costly private and military flights.
- Where
- Hungary, involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- When
- The complaint was reported on Tuesday, Sept. 15; the alleged travel covered 2022 onward, with the report citing trips through 2026.
- Why
- Anita Orban said the flights cost almost six times more than scheduled business-class travel and showed no apparent savings rationale.
Government allegations
Defense of former leadership
Use of private aircraft
Government allegations
Anita Orban said Szijjarto and his delegation routinely used chartered private flights or army planes instead of scheduled flights.
Defense of former leadership
Viktor Orban’s spokesman said the foreign minister’s flights fully complied with the relevant government decree.
Cost and public funds
Government allegations
Anita Orban said the travel arrangements showed no trace of savings considerations and raised suspicion of mismanagement causing significant financial loss.
Defense of former leadership
The defense said foreign engagements were organized with exemplary efficiency and that Szijjarto deserved praise rather than politically motivated attacks.
Legal responsibility
Government allegations
Anita Orban filed a criminal complaint against Szijjarto and his team over the alleged handling of travel arrangements.
Defense of former leadership
Viktor Orban rejected the corruption allegations and characterized the criticism as politically motivated through his spokesman.
Key facts
- Alleged additional cost
- About 4 billion Hungarian forints, reported as $12.6 million.
- Reported cost comparison
- The trips allegedly cost almost six times more than scheduled business-class flights.
- Travel methods
- Chartered private flights and the army’s planes.
- Period cited
- From 2022 onward; the report specifies 2022 to 2026 for the cost comparison.
- Complaint filed by
- Foreign Minister Anita Orban.
- Complaint concerns
- Former Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and his team.
- Official defense
- Viktor Orban rejected corruption allegations, and spokesman Bertalan Havasi said the flights complied with the relevant government decree.
Quotes
Bertalan Havasi
Spokesman for Viktor Orban
“In recent years, foreign engagements for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been organised with exemplary efficiency. Peter Szijjarto therefore deserves praise, not politically motivated attacks.”
theprint.in
“The uncovered facts therefore raise the suspicion of mismanagement of funds causing a significant loss, and also raise the responsibility of the ministry’s former leadership.”
theprint.in
Sources
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