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A pro-Russian who gives advice to the Hungarian government for billions
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The man who is on good terms with the Russians and advises the Hungarian government for billions: Klaus Mangold. In business circles, he is known as Mr Russia. But who is this German businessman who has such good relations with both Russia and Hungary? Read our article to learn about him.
In 2013, he was the one to arrange Orbán’s meeting with the head of Rosatom to decide on the construction of Paks II. Later, he lobbied the Russian and the Hungarian government in Brussels. At the end of 2021, Klaus Mangold received a contract worth HUF 8.2 billion from László Palkovics’ ministry. As can be seen, Klaus Mangold has been heavily involved in the Hungarian-Russian rapprochement.
Klaus Mangold, German businessman
Klaus Jürgen Mangold was born in 1943 in Pforzheim, southern Germany, and studied law and economics in Geneva, London and several German universities, Telex.hu writes. After graduating, he worked for a number of companies and soon enough was entrusted with important positions in West German business life.
He was a member of the board of Daimler-Benz AG (the Mercedes group) when he first met members of the Orbán government, with whom he also discussed Mercedes’ expansion in Hungary. In 1999, an agreement was reached with Attila Chikán, Minister of Economy at that time, on the refurbishment of Soviet-built Mig 29 aircraft. And although this deal fell through in 2001, Mangold’s relationship with Fidesz politicians continued.
Friends with Russia
His most important contact in the region is Vladimir Putin, whom he met in 1993, during his time in the KGB, writes Telex.hu. Mangold’s contacts with the East have also been appreciated in Germany, for example, between 2000 and 2010 he chaired the German Committee for Eastern European Economic Relations, which is responsible for representing the interests of participating German companies in Eastern Europe.
A well-known name in Hungary
In 2003, while he was still chairing the committee, he founded Mangold Consulting GmbH, a consultancy firm that has since become a well-known name in Hungary, and which was awarded a HUF 8.2 billion (EUR 20.3 million) contract by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology at the end of 2021. After 2010, Mangold’s relationship with Hungary has been running in parallel on two tracks.