In the 2010s, Hungarian intelligence began spying in Brussels against the EU and tried to recruit Hungarians working in EU institutions for this purpose. However, Hungarian intelligence carried it out so blatantly and clumsily that they were exposed, and their network collapsed — as uncovered by Direkt36 in cooperation with Belgian and German partners.
Direkt36 has obtained a document indicating that Lőrinc Mészáros provided significant financial assistance to Győző Orbán. There are several indications that this assistance was related to the controversial estate in Hatvanpuszta.
Documents obtained by Direkt36 indicate that a company with multiple ties to the son of the former governor of the Hungarian Central Bank also profited from the business dealings of the bank's foundation.
The former prime minister's decision to step down was more dramatic than it appeared to the public. According to an investigation by Direkt36, Ferenc Gyurcsány not only faced opposition from some of his party members, but his problems were compounded by a long-standing romantic relationship and the ensuing crisis in his personal life.
According to her own account, former head of state Katalin Novák has had a "hellish year and a half" since her resignation—but she could at least take comfort in the wardrobe she amassed during her presidency. Data obtained by Direkt36 shows that Novák kept most of the clothing free of charge after stepping down, while she purchased a smaller portion from her former office at prices well below their original value.
The Prime Minister has long said that he would like to grow the population of Hungary without bringing in immigrants. In recent years, however, not only has the number of births fallen, but the number of people leaving the country has also soared. According to a comprehensive data analysis by Direkt36, many young people left as well, which poses huge risks for the country.
“No reform, that's my motto” - a few years ago, this was the prime minister's explanation for not touching healthcare. But in 2010 he made big promises to improve the system.
Closing hospital wards jeopardizes the safe treatment of patients. The problem is particularly acute in smaller rural institutions. Direkt36 uses the story of a deceased pregnant woman to illustrate the deterioration of healthcare in the region.
The government is trying to hide the problems Hungarian hospitals are facing. However, Direkt36 used artificial intelligence to process more than a thousand official documents, which paint a devastating picture of how healthcare professionals struggle on a daily basis.
Georg Spöttle, a regular presence in pro-Orbán media, has come under scrutiny after one of his close acquaintances failed a background check—triggered by concerns over Spöttle’s Russian connections. Information obtained by Direkt36 reveals that Spöttle had a close relationship with an officer from the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency.
Despite the Orbán-government's lobbying with the Trump administration, the sanctions against the Russian bank that plays a key role in the Paks expansion remain in place. According to Direkt36 information, however, payments arounds the project have essentially stopped.
The Prime Minister traveled to Riyadh in October 2022 with a small entourage. According to Direkt36, even within the government only a few people knew about the trip, the purpose of which is still not entirely clear.
Among the documents obtained by Direkt36 are those relating to the planned lease of a Porsche 911, although the company says the deal never took place. The majority owner of the company, which also manages state funds, has private ties to Antal Rogán.
An international team of investigative journalists has looked into how China silences its critics living abroad. Direkt36 traced the head of an organization based in Hungary, who has also been in contact with high-ranking Hungarian government politicians.
Once an Orbán loyalist, in 2023 Péter Magyar was excluded from an exclusive pro-government club, a move that marked his growing alienation from Fidesz’s inner circles. His deteriorating relationship with a prominent minister, alongside mounting frustrations, pushed him toward a dramatic break with the ruling party. Magyar soon emerged as prime minister Viktor Orbán’s most prominent challenger, reshaping Hungarian politics within weeks. Direkt36’s investigation tells the story of the new and unlikely challenger of Orbán.
A lot of money has been lost from the Hungarian National Bank's foundation as a result of bad decisions, but the people around former governor of the central bank György Matolcsy's son have still benefited. Direkt36 has obtained a draft report from the State Audit Office of Hungary on the management of the central bank's much-criticized foundation, which has hundreds of billions of forints of assets.
Two women whose suffering reflects the crisis in the Hungarian healthcare system were treated at the clinics of Semmelweis University. The mistreatment is also common in other hospitals, and the government is aware of it, but has not taken any meaningful action. Direkt36's healthcare investigation continues.
Originally part of Nieman Report's "Dear America" series of essays that appeared November 26, 2024, we published the Hungarian version of our founder and editor András Pethő's article on Hungarian Press Freedom Day, 2025.
More and more pro-Fidesz figures are appearing in the court case linked to the Ministry of Agriculture. Meanwhile, minister István Nagy was only worried about what he had signed. Direkt36 has learned new details about the twisted case.
The documentary film by the investigative center tells the story of the business dealings of the Prime Minister's family over several decades. With hidden camera footage, we also show the luxurious world built by Viktor Orbán’s son-in-law István Tiborcz and his daughter Ráhel Orbán.
The prize was founded in memory of Hungarian journalist László Szente, who died in 2022, by his former colleagues, Katalin Rangos and Sándor Friderikusz.
Direkt36 has uncovered new details about two companies with close links to Ádám Matolcsy, the son of former MNB Governor György Matolcsy. The companies deal in high-end luxury real estate and other local businesses.
Direkt36 has obtained new evidence of how the Hungarian state is directing foreign diplomatic delegations to Hotel Dorothea, one of the hotels owned by the Prime Minister's son-in-law, István Tiborcz.
(Magyar) Panyi Szabolcs és Pethő András kapta a rangos elismerést a hírszerzés ellentmondásos műveleteiről és egy titkosszolgálati razziáról szóló cikkükért.
Direkt36 has revealed that during János Lázár's administration, the Information Office was monitoring OLAF staff investigating suspicious projects linked to the son-in-law of Viktor Orbán. They tried to find these documents when people from other services invaded the office's headquarters in the summer of 2018.
The Hungarian EU Presidency has proposed several hotels for guests arriving for the summit on 7-8 November. According to Direkt36, the Dorothea Hotel, owned by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's son-in-law, has been specifically recommended to the guests.
Although Hungarian hospitals have made some progress, they still lag significantly behind the European average. Direkt36 has obtained data showing which Hungarian hospitals are lagging behind the most in taking infection tests or hand disinfection.
Although Viktor Orbán has amassed considerable knowledge of economics over the decades, he sometimes has serious shortcomings. And he has now become the prime architect of economic policy, while creating a system in which it is difficult to get back to him when there is a problem with an idea. The final part of the Direkt36 series of articles on the Hungarian economy is the behind-the-scenes story of Orbán's economic policy.
The inside story of the quick rise of Márton Nagy, the minister in charge of rebooting the economy. He keeps making enemies both inside and outside the government but still enjoys the trust of Viktor Orbán.
In recent years, the Hungarian economy, which has been dominated for nearly a decade and a half by prime minister Viktor Orbán and a few of his confidants, has been struggling. What kind of infighting has been going on between them, and how has Orbán’s thinking on economic policy has evolved? The first part of our behind-the-scenes account focuses on the relationship of Orbán and central bank president György Matolcsy, the prime minister’s longtime ally who is now a fierce critic of the government’s economic policies.
Direkt36 has obtained an official document according to which Ádám Matolcsy, who got rich with the help of state funds, rented a villa worth HUF 3.5 billion (EUR 9.4 million) in Dubai. It is a property advertised as having at least eight bathrooms and a private beach.
