After more than 13 years, new documents have shed light on one of the longest-running mysteries surrounding Hungarian politician János Lázár: what he was doing in Zurich on 22 and 23 March 2013. The details were revealed by investigative outlet Direkt36, which obtained an internal government document from the Tisza government, which took office this spring.
Newly revealed documents show what János Lázár was doing in 2013
According to the document, Lázár, who was then heading the Prime Minister’s Office as a state secretary, met a person identified as “Prof. Mangold” in Zurich to discuss potential cooperation between the Hungarian government and Western European companies.
Direkt36 says the name almost certainly refers to Klaus Mangold, a prominent German businessman with extensive contacts in European and Russian business circles. Mangold established links with the Hungarian government in the early 2010s and later worked as an adviser to Viktor Orbán’s governments. The newly released report was prepared by his consultancy, Mangold Consulting GmbH.
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Rothschild, SAP and government communications
The report says Lázár and Mangold discussed three main areas. The first was whether Rothschild could act as an “independent adviser” to the Hungarian government, including assessing the country’s financial risks and advising on the banking sector. A meeting involving then Economy Minister Mihály Varga and newly appointed central bank governor György Matolcsy was reportedly planned, with Orbán himself potentially attending part of the meeting.
The pair also discussed cooperation with business software giant SAP, particularly in financial administration and healthcare. The third topic was the Hungarian government’s marketing strategy. The report mentions German consultancy firms Schuppner and CNC, which Mangold was said to know well and which could advise on responding to critical media. A joint brainstorming session was reportedly proposed.
Rothschild later did work for the Orbán government, including producing a report during the European Union’s investigation into the Paks II nuclear project. The report concluded that the investment could be economically viable under market conditions. Rothschild also later participated in the creation of the partly state-owned MBH Bank.
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A mystery that began with expensive hotel bills
The Zurich trip had attracted attention because of its unusually high costs. Lázár and his companion spent HUF 189,000 on one night’s accommodation in Zurich. Two other trips also raised questions: HUF 596,000 for one night in Milan and HUF 920,000 for two nights in England.
At the time, Lázár’s office refused to reveal the purpose of the trips, citing national security concerns. Lázár was also responsible for Hungary’s foreign intelligence service. Journalist András Pethő, then working for Origo, sued for access to the information. The case became politically explosive and contributed to pressure on Origo’s editorial team. Editor-in-chief Gergő Sáling was later dismissed, prompting many journalists, including Pethő, to leave the outlet.
Lázár eventually repaid the travel expenses, but the purpose of the Zurich meeting remained secret for years. The former minister declined to comment to Direkt36. Mangold’s consultancy also refused media questions, while SAP said it was unaware of any cooperation linked to the meeting. Rothschild and CNC did not respond.
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