Péter Szijjártó was questioned for three hours by Parliament’s National Security Committee over his new senior position at Chinese carmaker BYD, with a Tisza MP saying the former minister repeatedly insisted that his conscience was clear.
Szijjártó questioned for three hours
Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó appeared before Parliament’s National Security Committee on Monday for a three-hour closed-door hearing concerning his new role at Chinese electric carmaker BYD.
Szijjártó, who served as foreign minister for 12 years under the previous government, resigned from his parliamentary mandate in July before taking up a senior position at BYD responsible for external relations and developing new business areas.
The committee launched an investigation into his position at the Chinese company in September, with questions focusing on potential national security risks arising from his move from government to a major international company with significant Hungarian investments.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Szijjártó said he had answered every question put to him.
“I came here, it was an honour, and I answered every question,” he said.
He added that, as an executive of an international company, he could not comment on domestic political matters in Hungary or other countries.
“Politicians will make statements on political issues,” Telex quoted Szijjártó as saying.
Before the hearing, the former minister said he believed investment promotion had been one of the most successful areas of the previous government’s work. He also said the state support provided to BYD had been within the usual framework.
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Tisza MP: Szijjártó said his conscience was clear
Following the closed-door session, Tisza Party MP Pál Czakó Czirbus said Szijjártó had been questioned about his work for BYD, as well as his ties to Russian and Chinese state actors.
“Szijjártó Péter said that his conscience was clear about everything,” Czakó Czirbus said.
According to the Tisza MP, the committee also received an answer as to when employment negotiations between Szijjártó and BYD began, although he did not disclose the date.
Czakó Czirbus argued that Szijjártó’s move to the private sector itself raises national security concerns, given that he spent almost 12 years as Hungary’s foreign minister and accumulated extensive knowledge and information during his time in office.
He said Monday’s hearing was only the first stage of the committee’s investigation. The heads of the national security services are expected to be questioned next, followed by a concluding stage in which the information gathered will be assessed.
Czakó Czirbus said the process could be completed within about a month, after which the committee would make public whatever information can legally be disclosed.
The Tisza politician also said the possibility of questioning former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could not be ruled out.
Government official raises concerns over former foreign ministry
The hearing was also attended by Foreign Ministry parliamentary state secretary György László Velkey, who said he had been deeply affected by what he had heard. Velkey praised Foreign Ministry staff for preserving numerous documents following the change of government, saying they had prevented them from being destroyed or discarded.
According to the state secretary, the documents paint a picture of a foreign ministry and activities that raise “extremely serious concerns” in several areas. He said it was particularly striking to hear Szijjártó’s answers in person after the former minister had led the Foreign Ministry for 12 years.
Velkey also accused Szijjártó, alongside former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, of being chiefly responsible for what he described as Hungary becoming effectively isolated within its alliance system.
He stressed, however, that determining criminal liability was not the Foreign Ministry’s responsibility. He said the ministry had already taken legal steps concerning procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic and could take similar action over the BYD investment if warranted.
BYD negotiations under investigation
Velkey said Szijjártó had personally represented the Hungarian state as minister and chief negotiator during talks with BYD. According to information currently available to the new Foreign Ministry, BYD negotiated hundreds of billions of forints in state support with Szijjártó.
Velkey said preparatory documents from those negotiations were now in the possession of the new Foreign Ministry. These documents, he said, allow officials to see in detail how the Hungarian position was developed and how the country’s interests were represented during the talks.
Asked whether the Tisza government would terminate its agreement with BYD, Velkey did not indicate that such a move was planned.
“Our priority is representing Hungarian interests,” he said, adding that Hungary would continue to need new investments and that projects already under way should be allowed to proceed as fully as possible while respecting the law.
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