Budapest (AFP) – Hungary’s former foreign minister Peter Szijjarto, an ally of nationalist ex-leader Viktor Orban, announced his resignation as a lawmaker on Wednesday to work for Chinese electric-vehicle giant BYD, prompting conflict-of-interest accusations. The world’s top EV maker has made the central European country a hub in recent years, reportedly receiving around $450 million in financial support from Orban’s government.
As foreign minister from 2014 until May, when Orban stood down after an election rout, Szijjarto was deeply involved in the government’s overtures towards China and BYD in particular. Having served as a lawmaker since 2002, Szijjarto announced on Facebook that he was leaving parliament after receiving a “highly prestigious offer” from BYD, “one of the world’s leading companies.”
“Starting today, I will continue to work as the executive responsible for the group’s external relations and the development of new business lines,” the 47-year-old wrote. Prime Minister Peter Magyar — who ousted Orban from power after 16 years in Hungary’s April elections — claimed Szijjarto had “long represented foreign interests” and “previously lobbied to secure massive Hungarian state subsidies” for BYD.
“The only difference from before is that from now on, Peter Szijjarto will not be paid by the Hungarian people for the same ‘work’, but by his actual employer,” the pro-European conservative said on Facebook. BYD began constructing its first European electric car production plant in the town of Szeged in southern Hungary in 2024, and announced it was moving its regional corporate and research centre from the Netherlands to Budapest last year.
Last year, Szijjarto said the government was granting 20 billion forints ($64 million) in taxpayers’ money for BYD to open its Budapest centre. The carmaker’s Szeged factory, which has not officially started production, also received an undisclosed amount of state subsidies. Investigative site Atlatszo estimated the total at around 120 billion to 130 billion forints.
As foreign minister, Szijjarto was known for his combative approach towards European diplomats and his frequent visits to Russia.
© 2024 AFP
