Orbán's minister got a job at China's BYD.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced an investigation into alleged conflicts of interest involving former Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó, who recently joined Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD as its executive. The probe will examine decisions, negotiations, and commitments made during Szijjártó’s tenure as minister that were linked to BYD’s investment in Hungary. Szijjártó resigned from his parliamentary seat last week to take up the new role with BYD, one of the world's largest producers of electric vehicles. His announcement came amid accusations of conflict of interest and criticism over his role in securing substantial state subsidies for the company while serving in government. The Hungarian government has launched a formal inquiry into these claims, aiming to scrutinize all financial support, tax incentives, permits, exemptions from environmental regulations, and public investments granted to major multinational corporations under Orbán’s leadership. Magyar stated that the investigation will look into who made these decisions, who prepared them, which expert warnings were ignored, and how much burden these actions have placed on Hungarian taxpayers, workers, local communities, and the environment. He emphasized that the inquiry will cover all aspects of the government’s engagement with BYD, including the strategic support provided to facilitate the company’s European operations. Szijjártó, a close ally of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, played a key role in attracting Chinese investments to Hungary, including the BYD project. During his time in office, he helped secure hundreds of millions of forints in public funds, diplomatic backing, and state infrastructure for the company. In 2023, Szijjártó announced that BYD would open its first European factory in Hungary, allowing the firm to bypass tariffs imposed by the European Union on Chinese electric vehicles. Two years later, he revealed plans for BYD to establish its European headquarters and research and development center in Budapest, backed by a state grant of 20 billion forints, approximately $63.7 million. These investments were part of Orbán’s strategy to position Hungary as a global hub for lithium-ion battery production, primarily through the attraction of Chinese battery manufacturers who have established numerous factories across the country. Such policies have sparked protests from local residents, environmental groups, and opposition politicians, who fear that the new industry could exacerbate ecological problems, threaten water resources, and increase Hungary’s economic dependence on China. Despite these concerns, the government continues to promote large-scale foreign investments as a means of boosting industrial growth and employment. Neither Szijjártó nor BYD has responded to allegations of potential conflicts of interest. Szijjártó described his new job as “a prestigious opportunity” to work within “one of the greatest success stories” in the automotive industry. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government moves forward with its investigation, seeking transparency around the decisions that shaped the nation’s economic direction during Orbán’s rule.