The Prime Minister’s Office has filed criminal complaints in five separate cases, alleging total damages of 106 billion forints, following a review of documents inherited from the previous administration. Overpriced contracts helped Fidesz-close (public) figures?
Overpriced contracts to Fidesz-close figures?
The findings suggest possible party-political motivations, after officials uncovered references in earlier, Fidesz-era records to a black-hooded man who had acted aggressively against protesters during the former prime minister’s nationwide tour. The revelations form part of a broader post-transition audit, which has exposed a series of questionable contracts, payments and personal entanglements. Authorities believe the combined damage amounts to 106 billion forints, with complaints lodged in each case.
In recent weeks, the government’s examination of the previous administration has brought to light multiple agreements and payments whose apparent overpricing raises suspicions of breach of fiduciary duty and abuse of office.
Between 2021 and the spring of 2026, seven civil organisations received a combined 1.52 billion forints. Analysis indicates overlapping leadership, founders, official representatives and financial officers, suggesting a web of personal and financial connections. Notably, a Fidesz-KDNP parliamentary candidate in Budapest appears in some capacity across all seven organisations. These include the FICSAK 11 Foundation, Women in Everyday Life Association, Green Envoy Association, Patriots for Hungary Association, Young Families’ Club Association, Gazdagrét Alliance Association, and the Together XI Sports Association.
Additional fraud revealed?
The government has also ordered an immediate investigation into media monitoring contracts worth 30.9 billion forints concluded with OBSERVER between 2020 and 2026. According to available data, the annual fee increases outlined in the contracts do not appear proportionate to changes in the scope of services provided.
The internal review further revealed that a man identified in official documents as a liaison for Fidesz — using an email address ending in fidesz.hu and listed as a personal secretary — is the same individual who, clad in black and wearing a hood, sought to keep protesters at bay during Viktor Orbán’s spring campaign events. This raises the prospect of organised party involvement. The documents have been forwarded to the competent authorities as a supplement to an ongoing investigation into disorderly conduct.
In another case, approximately 40 billion forints was paid to a contractor for 15 million data deletion codes linked to the veglegestorles.hu service. The contracts were concluded by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority with Antenna Hungária, while software provision and system operation were handled by Certus Software. The documents suggest that payments may have been made in instances where no genuine data deletion activity took place.
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Church in Hungary also in the authorities’ crosshairs
Officials also uncovered chaotic accounting practices and extensive personal and organisational overlaps within the Hungarian Orthodox Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Despite having a congregation of no more than 2,000 followers, the body has received 34.3 billion forints in state support in recent years. It was previously granted, free of charge, the Károlyi Palace in Budapest’s 8th district, along with two further properties on Múzeum Street and Ötpacsirta Street.
Documentation relating to these publicly funded investments — including progress reports, certificates of completion, technical and financial oversight records, and detailed cost estimates — is incomplete. Contractor payments lack transparency, and the data frequently contradicts itself. These findings raise suspicions of budgetary fraud, failure to meet oversight obligations linked to such fraud, the use of falsified private documents, and potential abuse of office.
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