Come to light: Top Socialist has undeclared assets in Austrian bank account

Budapest, February 4 (MTI) – Gabor Simon, the deputy chairman of the Hungarian Socialist Party, has undeclared assets held in an Austrian bank account, Magyar Nemzet daily reported today.

Without citing its sources, the paper said that the Socialist politician had placed 575,000 euros and 162,954 US dollars in a securities account opened in Austria on April 10, 2009, while on October 16, 2013 his deposit account contained 770,000 euros.

The paper added that Simon’s earlier asset declarations did not contain these amounts and there is no indication of their origin.

The politician allegedly told the bank that the source of the money was a company and the sale of a Budapest property, the paper said.

MTI made several attempts on Tuesday morning to contact Simon for comment on Magyar Nemzet’s article, but was unable to speak to him.

PM co-leader Benedek Javor, a member of the Unity opposition alliance formed with the Socialist Party, told a press conference that he understood the Socialists had decided “to part with” Simon. Javor said the situation needs to be cleared up and the Socialists need to make the next move. He added that he understood the Socialists also believe that “this was a condemnable step by Gabor Simon” and “his involvement in the 2014 election under the Socialists’ banner is undesirable.”

Commenting on the Magyar Nemzet report, Antal Rogan, parliamentary leader of the Fidesz party, said “we are waiting for a Socialist reaction to clear up the situation. They must say what’s true about these claims and what isn’t.”

The leftist Democratic Coalition (DK), another member of Unity, said that if the news about Simon are authentic, the Socialists’ deputy leader should leave the political arena.

DK spokesman Zsolt Greczy expressed the conviction that Socialist leader Attila Mesterhazy would take the toughest and most resolute action.

Gyorgy Rubovszky, the Christian Democratic chairman of Parliament’s immunities committee, said the committee would start an investigation concerning Simon’s asset declaration.

Rubovszky said he had convened the committee for next Tuesday.

Photo: mszp.hu

Source: http://hungarymatters.hu/