The Hungarian former trade and foreign affairs minister Péter Szijjártó is resigning as an MP after receiving what he called an “extremely honourable offer from one of the defining companies of the global economy”. That is, for an executive position at BYD — the massive Chinese manufacturer of electric cars.
“The only difference from before is that, from now on, Péter Szijjártó will no longer be paid by the Hungarian people for the same ‘work,’ but by his actual employer,” prime minister Péter Magyar responded scathingly on social media.
Szijjártó was the face of ex-prime minister Viktor Orbán’s ‘Eastern Opening’ doctrine, which sought deeper economic ties with China, Russia and other Asian countries.
In recent years, Orbán’s government has attracted about a quarter of all Chinese investment in Europe with tax breaks and infrastructure projects.
Chinese giants including Huawei, BRI, and BYD have all relocated or set their European HQ in Hungary.
