Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Resigns From Parliament for Job with Chinese Automaker
Szijjártó said BYD offered him an international post overseeing external relations and new business lines after 224 rounds of talks on its Hungary factory.
- On Wednesday, former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó resigned his parliamentary seat to join Chinese electric automaker BYD in an executive role, announcing the move on Facebook after serving nearly 12 years as Hungary's top diplomat under Viktor Orbán.
- Szijjártó's departure follows his Fidesz party's April landslide defeat to the pro-European Tisza party led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar; since then he had been largely absent from parliamentary votes and public life.
- In 2023, Szijjártó orchestrated BYD's first European factory in Hungary after 224 rounds of negotiations, calling the project 'one of the largest investments in Hungarian economic history' and securing government financial incentives while opposing European Union tariffs on Chinese vehicles.
- His resignation comes amid controversy over The Washington Post's report that he made regular calls to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during European Union meetings with 'live reports on what's been discussed,' which Szijjártó acknowledged while denying impropriety.
- Throughout his tenure, Szijjártó maintained close relations with Russia despite Ukraine's February 23, 2022 invasion, frequently traveling to Moscow to negotiate energy deals and earning President Vladimir Putin's Russian Order of Friendship in 2021, diverging sharply from European Union counterparts.
82 Articles
82 Articles
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Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Joins China’s BYD, Sparking Conflict-Of-Interest Debate (Worthy News Investigation)
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary’s Prime Minister Péter Magyar accused former Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Wednesday of serving foreign interests, including those of communist-run China, after the longtime diplomat resigned from parliament to join Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD. Szijjártó, who served as Hungary’s top diplomat for nearly 12 years under former populist Prim…
Hungary’s Former FM Péter Szijjártó, Who Championed China Ties, Joins Auto Giant BYD
Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has announced his resignation from the Hungarian parliament to take on a global corporate role at the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD . On July 15, Szijjártó shared his decision on Facebook, stating that he is stepping down from his legislative seat to transition into the private sector. We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field. DONATE NOW A veter…
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