Hungary probes former foreign minister over costly private air travel
Anita Orbán said an internal review found 53 private-jet trips cost HUF 4 billion more than scheduled business-class flights.
- On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Anita Orbán filed a criminal complaint against former minister Péter Szijjártó, alleging routine use of private and military aircraft for official travel between 2022 and 2026 caused significant financial state losses.
- This legal action follows findings from an internal review conducted by the new government, which ousted Viktor Orbán in an April election and launched an anti-corruption drive across the ministry.
- Documents and the probe showed these 53 private-jet journeys cost 4 billion forints more than scheduled business-class flights, with no evidence cheaper options were systematically considered.
- Spokesman Bertalan Havasi rejected the allegations, stating in an email that the flights complied with government decrees and that "foreign engagements for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been organised with exemplary efficiency."
- The Fidesz parliamentary group dismissed the complaint as frivolous, while any potential criminal responsibility for the alleged mismanagement of funds remains to be established by ongoing investigation.
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60 Articles
Foreign minister targets Szijjártó over private jet spending, Fidesz calls complaint frivolous
The foreign minister filed a criminal complaint on suspicion of breach of fiduciary duty causing particularly significant financial harm, following the discovery during an audit that Péter Szijjártó and his delegation had "routinely" used private aircraft or special military planes for their foreign trips.
During the inspection, the new leadership of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, led by Anita Orbán (Tisza), found that the ex-head of diplomacy Péter Szijjártó (Fidesz) was chartering private planes for his delegation's foreign trips without reason, even though he could use commercial routes. Between 2022 and 2026, his trips cost four billion forints (260 million kronor).
According to the Government, between 2022 and 2026, these agency flights cost $12.6 million more than regular business-class flights.
FM Orbán files criminal complaint over former FM Szijjártó's countless private jet travels
Anita Orbán said an internal review of the Foreign Ministry had uncovered serious irregularities and alleged that the routine use of chartered aircraft from 2022 onwards may have caused significant financial damage to the state. Continue reading: https://dailynewshungary.com/fm-orban-complaint-fm-szijjarto-flights/
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Anita Orban, has submitted a critical appeal because of the doubts about the management of the property, which has caused a lot of material damage, but it is still proven that there is no predecessor in the function of Peter Sijar's routine development. private planes or special Hungarian military planes for their travel abroad, carry the list Nepsava.
Hungary probes former foreign minister over costly private air travel
Hungary's foreign minister said on Tuesday that she had filed a criminal complaint against former minister Peter Szijjarto and his team for regularly using costly private flights instead of scheduled flights in the past four years.
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