Another privacy scandal in foreign affairs: Hungarian ambassador repatriated

Szilveszter Bus, the Ambassador of Hungary to Thailand, was sent home due to “unworthy conduct” on the 30^th of April. News circulating in Hungarian diplomatic circles suggests that Bus has been repatriated for “privacy” reasons.

According to 168, the intelligence of the local authorities and a Hungarian secret service, the Information Office, warned Budapest about the ambassador’s unacceptable lifestyle, and Bus was ordered home without any prior warning or official justification. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is quite secretive about the repatriation. At the request of HVG, they succinctly stated that Bus had been on the Foreign Ministry’s staff since 1991, and his delegacy was terminated on April 30, 2021.

The Hungarian diplomat had indeed a successful career working for the ministry.

He worked at the embassies in Stockholm and Ottawa, later becoming head of the U.S. department in Budapest, and he was appointed ambassador to Jakarta in 2009. From 2014, he represented the country in New Delhi, and on his return, he became Deputy Secretary of State, responsible for the South Opening. He became an ambassador again in 2019, this time in Bangkok.

Some sources suggested that the suspiciously fast repatriation of the ambassador was somewhat similar to the case of the former Peruvian ambassador, Gábor Kaleta. As we reported earlier, Kaleta was arrested and deprived of his ambassador status because of his paedophilia scandal.

• Former Ambassador Kaleta will not go to prison for child pornography

After the former Peruvian ambassador’s scandal, the Information Office was informally tasked with investigating similar cases. The sources of both 168 and HVG, however, clarified the situation:

there was no violation of the law in the case of Bus, and no criminal proceedings are pending against him.

Bus’s case is more like the one of József Szájer, former MEP, who resigned after being arrested trying to escape from an orgy with drugs in his bag.

• Szájer sex scandal – the former Fidesz MEP is still in touch with the organiser of the orgy

A source of HVG suggested that “Thailand is a popular destination for sex tourists”. One of 168’s sources claimed that everyone was aware of Bus’s sexual orientation, but

the problem was his intolerable habit of going to parties and orgies while representing Hungary.

According to HVG, it is no coincidence that Fidesz-members Máté Kocsis and Gabriella Selmeczi have submitted an anti-paedophile bill just a few days ago, according to which paedophile offenders may not hold political office in public administration. Although the bill was most probably influenced by the Kaleta case, HVG suggests it is possible that Fidesz knew that they would have another embarrassing affair and they would have to defend themselves.

Read alsoHungarian govt proposes anti-paedophile law with stricter measures, public list

Source: HVG, 168