While in the past ten years the government seemed to operate with almost military-style discipline, the last few weeks brought several U-turns from the Orbán administration. Here’s what happened behind the scenes.
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How the epidemic disrupted Orbán’s machinery
China suspended the export of some COVID-19 tests in April. The Hungarian government had already stocked up on them
Hungarian paramedics are still using tests whose exports were suspended in April. This week, China again loosened export requirements, and it seems that the Hungarian government also managed to find a reliable supplier.
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Hungarian ministerial adviser searched for coronavirus masks. He found them at a company where his father is a senior manager
Tons of medical masks and other personal protective equipment are arriving to Hungary almost every day. One of the big winners of the state orders is a little-known Chinese-Hungarian company with family ties to the ministry that handled the procurements.
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Orbán’s media machine in the Balkans investigated for suspicious transactions
A Hungarian businessman close to the government has expanded his media empire to the Balkans. However, a high-value contract between his Slovenian and North Macedonian companies raised the attention of local authorities.
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Companies close to Orbán’s allies will operate Hungarian trading houses in the Balkan
The Hungarian government started to rebuild its controversial trading house system on the Balkans – once again, with the old local partners that have good political connections.
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How Viktor Orban got involved in Trump’s Ukraine scandal
Several influential U.S. government officials have stated in recent weeks that Viktor Orban was inciting Donald Trump against Ukraine. However, reality is more complex and there are tough diplomatic battles being fought in the background.
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Links tighten between Orbán’s brother and a businessman who keeps winning public tenders
Gábor Szentgyörgyi has a common business with the son-in-law of the prime minister’s brother, and one of his business interests opened a branch on a property owned by a company of the Orbán family.
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Viktor Orban promised something to Vladimir Putin, but the U.S. intervened
Hungary’s government promised diplomatic immunities to the Russian-led, now Budapest-based International Investment Bank, but U.S. diplomacy had concerns over the bank’s alleged ties to Russian intelligence.
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The Russians are poised to benefit from international deal financed by Hungary
In addition to the Russians, several government-close people are also watching closely the project developments. The business partner of Árpád Habony has appeared in the company that signed the contract. The investment is likely to come up at the Orbán-Putin meeting.
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Orban promises the U.S. counterintelligence measures against a Russian-led bank
Viktor Orban has secretly promised many things to the U.S. government because they were worried about the Russian-led International Investment Bank’s (IIB) moving to Budapest. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government is trying to reassure U.S. congressmen that everything is OK with the IIB, although many find the bank suspicious.
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This is how the mining company of Viktor Orban’s father became more profitable than its major competitors
The mining company of Viktor Orbán’s father has been involved in several major public construction projects in recent years and it has become one of the most successful companies in the market. Last year, it outperformed all of its major competitors in one important aspect: Győző Orbán’s company achieved the highest profit margin.
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A man close to Viktor Orbán’s brother was the head of a department at the tax office. His department was dissolved after we reported about it
Tamás Balogh, an acquaintance of Orbán Győző Jr. became the head of the department in charge of major procurements at the tax office, while his other acquaintance won high-value public tenders from the same authority. After we revealed their relationship, the tax authority was restructured, Balogh is not a head of department any more.
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I really like Norway! This is how Trump refused Viktor Orban’s deal aimed against NGOs
Viktor Orban arrived at the White House with a very delicate plan. He tried to persuade Donald Trump to help the Hungarian government’s efforts against independent Hungarian civil society organizations. In return, he suggested that he would not obstruct ongoing negotiations over a lucrative U.S.-Norwegian arms deal.
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How public money keeps flowing to Orban’s family through Hungary’s new tycoon
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban keeps repeating that he doesn’t deal with business issues. The companies of his family members, however, are benefitting from EU-funded constructions that are carried out by the business empire of Lorinc Meszaros, a friend of the PM. We explain their business relationship in a short video.
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Trump and Orban to cut billion-dollar arms deals at the possible expense of Hungarian NGOs
U.S. Ambassador David Cornstein boasted about billion-dollar arms deals with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. However, Hungary wants to use an air defense system deal as leverage to gain government control over funding of independent NGOs.
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The government closed the foreign trading houses but made an exception with PM Orban’s Turkish friend
Adnan Polat knows the Prime Minister as well as his family members well. The government canceled dozens of contracts last year but his contract remained in effect.
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Hungary Buying U.S. Missile System to Mend Ties with Trump Administration
Hungary and the U.S. are preparing to conclude several significant military-economic deals, according to Direkt36’s sources. However, the acquisition of a U.S. missile system could complicate Russian-Hungarian relations.
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Oligarch who lost his war against Viktor Orban turns towards agriculture
Lajos Simicska and his wife injected capital into the only company they kept from their former business empire. The company operates a farm in a quite village in West Hungary.
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Diplomatic Cable Reveals U.S. Frustrated with Orban’s Hungary
This official document offers an in-depth glimpse into U.S.-Hungarian relations. State Department has stopped calling out Orban for Hungary’s democratic decline but gets little in return. Orban’s statement on Hungary’s neutrality is also mentioned.
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